Since AFC Sudbury was formed on 1st June 1999 the men below have been connected with either the management, playing, or involved with the first team in competitive matches.

(Where the apps subs and goals are not completed it indicates the player is still with the club)

PART ONE A to L

Paul Abrahams
A centre forward (b 31/10/73) who played over 200 league games for Colchester United, and Brentford before going non league with teams such as Chesham Utd, Kettering Town, Canvey Island, Heybridge Swifts and Wivenhoe Town. Signed from Wivenhoe at the start of the 2005/06 season and made his debut against Lewes on 16th July 2005, and played throughout the 2005/06 season. His contract saw him with the club in season 2006/07 and he was appointed joint Vice-Captain. A series of niggling injuries restricted his appearances at the start of the season, and on 25th November 2006, his contract was terminated by mutual consent. On the opening day of the 2007/08 Ridgeons League season, 11th August 2007 he appeared for Halstead Town and scored and remained with them until the end of the season. In the summer of 2008 he had a knee operation. In July 2009 he did a sponsored cycle ride from John O’ Groats to Lands End. In November 2009 he rejoined Halstead Town helping out with first team coaching. In April 2010 he played again for the club. At the start of the 2010/11 he was not with any club, but on 17th October 2010 he turned out for the Colchester United Legends along with a number of other AFC players. In January 2011 he joined up with Jodie Brown as part of the management team at Redbridge, but left at the end of the 2010/11 season. In September 2012 he was taking part in Triathlons and on 7th October he completed one in Barcelona. Being a co-commentator on Colchester United for BBC Essex became another string to his bow in December 2012.

Apps 56 Subs 11 Goals 14
Updated 31/12/12

Stephen Adams
A young central defender, (b 8/02/90) he joined the club from Long Melford in December 2008 to play reserve team football, he had a taste of first team football when he was named as a substitute on 17th January 2009. He remained with the club at the start of the 2009/10 season and was still there in April 2010. He re-signed again for the 2010/11 season and was still with the club in November 2010. At the end of the season he was the winner of  the Reserve Players Player of the Year. He continued with the club in 2011/12 and in September 2011 he was promoted to the first team squad, however after an injury he reverted back to the reserves in February 2012. He returned to King’s Marsh for the 2012/13 season playing in the reserve side.

Apps Subs Goals
Updated 11/09/12

Tom Agricole
A 23 year old midfield or defensive player, (b 17/3/87) he joined AFC for pre-season in July 2010 having previously been with Needham Market and before that Bury Town. He spent a year in America on a ‘soccer’ scholarship, and has represented the University of Hertfordshire. Injury and studies prevented him making too many appearances and on 11th December 2010 he signed and played for Felixstowe and Walton United. He remained with them and played against AFC on 9th August 2011. On 17th July 2012 he was in the Walsham le Willows team that played against AFC in a pre-season friendly and continued with them once the season started.

Apps 5 Subs 2 Goals 0

Updated 17/09/12

Stuart Ainsley
Born 19/01/88 he started his career as a defender with the Ipswich Town Academy and was with them for nearly ten years. He was released and joined Chelmsford City in 2006 and remained with them as a midfielder until October 2008 when he briefly signed for Needham Market. He however signed for Canvey Island on 25th October and made his debut the same day. He signed for AFC on 8th July 2009, but was released on 7th January 2010 before joining Felixstowe and Walton United three days later. On 10th July 2010 he played as a triallist for Lowestoft Town, and ten days later had signed a two year contract with the club. He was still with the club in November 2010, and remained there at the start of the 2011/12 season and played throughout it. He was still with Lowestoft at the start of the 2012/13 season and still there in December 2012.

Apps 20 Subs 1 Goals 1
Updated 31/12/12

Stuart Alston
A sixteen year old forward when he joined the reserve side at the start of the 2004/05 season coming from youth football. He started just one Eastern Floodlight League game during that season and left midway through it. He played for Long Melford in 2005/06 and 2006/07. At the start of the 2007/08 season he was still with the Stoneylands club. In September 2008 he was with Glemsford & Cavendish United, but at the start of March 2009 he was back playing with Long Melford Reserves. In November 2009 he was appointed as a coach to the reserve side at Stoneylands. He was still there in December 2010 and in January 2011 was the Reserve team coach. At the start of the 2011/12 season he continued in that role, but had to give it up due to employment elsewhere. He was playing for Melford Reserves in March 2012. At the start of the 2012/13 season, August 2012 he was playing for Hadleigh United Reserves and working back in the area.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 07/08/12

Wayne Anderson

A midfielder, he arrived at the club from Kings Lynn in December 2002, a tough tackling no nonsense type of player. He played his last game for the club in the F.A. Vase final of 2002/03. He signed for Wisbech Town at the start of season 2003/04, but in October 2003 re-signed for Kings Lynn. After suffering a serious knee injury he signed for Downham Town at the start of the 2005/06 season. At the start of 2006/07 he was with Fakenham Town but towards the end of December 2006 he returned to Downham Town. He was still with the Norfolk club in season 2007/08. On 23rd June 2008 he was appointed manager of Downham Town and remained there throughout the 2008/09 season. He was re-appointed for the 2009/10 season at the end of May 2009. On 29th January 2010 he was appointed as manager of Fakenham Town. He was still at Clipbush Park at the start of the 2010/11 season and continued throughout it. ‘Wayno’ was still in charge on 23rd July 2011 when AFC played a pre-season friendly against ‘The Ghosts’. At the start of the 2012/13 season he was still there.

Apps 26 Subs 0 Goals 2

Updated 05/08/12

Leon Antoine

A strongly build front runner who had played for Chalfont St Peter, Stansted, Leyton, Maldon Town, Aveley, Tilbury, Borehamwood, Redbridge, Canvey Island, Braintree Town, AFC Hornchurch, Billericay Town, Heybridge Swifts, Bishop’s Stortford, Harlow Town (twice) Brentwood Town and Maldon and Tiptree. He signed for AFC on the eve of the 2012/13 season and scored on his debut on 18th August 2012. He ended the season winning the First Team Golden Boot Award netting fourteen goals.

Apps   Goals Subs

Updated 18/05/13

Alex Archer

A goalkeeper (b 24/11/93) he started with Parkside and was then with Peterborough United from 2007/08 in their youth system.  Whilst there he played on loan for Haverhill Rovers (8 apps) in August 2011, Stamford (3 apps) in September 2011 and in November 2011 went on loan to Ilkeston Town (6 apps). He was released by ‘The Posh’ and had trials at Cambridge City, Kilmarnock and Histon before the start of the 2012/13 season when he joined Needham Market (11 apps) before being let go by ‘The Marketmen’ in early October 2012. He joined AFC initially for the reserves but make his first team debut on 16th October in a Ryman League Cup tie. At the end of the season he was voted as the Players Player of the Year.

Apps  Subs Goals

Updated 18/05/13

Erdem Artun
A Turkish/English defensive player (b11/11/ 82) in London, he joined Ipswich Town as a youth player in 1999. He went on loan to Doncaster Rovers in September and October 2002 where he played one League game and from September 2003 to February 2004 he joined Darlington. There was a short trial at Leyton Orient. He played for Woodbridge Town and then joined Heybridge Swifts in the summer of 2005. In the latter part of 2006 he played on loan at Wivenhoe Town. He joined AFC from Heybridge in June 2007. He was named as substitute in the league first game of the season on 18th August 2007 but never got on. On 20th August he was released from his contract due to changes in his work commitments. At the start of the 2008/09 season he was playing for Halstead Town but suffered a bad injury after only two games and did not return until the middle of March 2009. At the start of the 2009/10 season he was still with the Rosemary Lane club, but suffered a bad arm injury at the end of September 2009. On 5th January 2011 Redbridge announced that he had signed for them.

Apps 0 Subs 1 Goals 0

Updated 05/01/2011

Chris Bacon
A strong, well built centre forward (b 24/1/84) who started his career with Kings Lynn, before having season with Grantham Town. He had spells with Mildenhall Town and finished the 2006/07 season with Dereham Town. He went Australia where he played for Noosa Lions before returning to England just prior to the start of the 2007/08 season. He made his AFC debut as a trialist at Leiston on 21st July 2007, before signing a one year deal with the club on 23rd July. ‘Bakes’ scored on his league debut against Aveley on 18th August 2007. At the end of the season he left and on 1st June 2008 signed for Mildenhall Town. On 11th October 2008 he went on a months loan to Dereham Town, but on 5th November Mildenhall placed him on the transfer list. His loan was extended for another four weeks on 8th November. On 13th December 2008 he signed for Dereham Town on a permanent basis, he however played his last game for them in January 2009, and was believed to have taken up employment in Australia soon afterwards. He in fact played football for Sunshine Coast FC in the Queensland State League and won the 2010 Championship with them in September 2010. On 25th November 2010 he was back in England and had signed for King’s Lynn Town and was awaiting international clearance, this was received and he played for the Linnets until the end if the 2010/11 season. On 14th June 2011 King’s Lynn Town announced that they were not retaining his services and he had left the club. Wisbech Town announced that he had signed for them on 3rd August 2011. He played throughout the 2011/12 season becoming the club’s leading marksman, and at the end of it won The Managers, the Players and The Supporters Player Of The Season Awards. At the start of the 2012/13 season he was still with Wisbech, and he played until the end of the season, finishing runners up in the league and winning the League Cup. In early May 2013 he announced he was emigrating to New Zealand.

Apps 33 Subs 5 Goals 6
Updated 06/05/13

Mark Bailey

A twenty-five year old central defender who with the army stationed in Colchester when he asked via Facebook to have chance with the club in December 2012. He previously played for Port Vale Reserves, Stafford Rangers Reserves, Stockbridge and in season 2011/12 with Andover Lions in the Wessex League. He has also represented the Army and the Combined Services. After being named on the bench a number of times he made his AFC debut coming on as a substitute on 15th January 2013.

Apps  Subs  Goals

Updated 15/01/13

Lewis Baillie

A midfielder he joined the club at the start of the 2009/10 season having previously played for Cambridge City, Bishops Stortford, Heybridge Swifts, Tiptree United, Wivenhoe Town, and Mildenhall Town. He was released on 15th October 2009. On 22nd January 2010 he had signed for Newmarket Town and stayed until the end of the season. He did not re-join at the start of 2010/11 but did sign again for the Jockeys on 6th October 2010. On 17th September 2011 he was still with them, however he left the club in November 2011. He was appointed Cambridge City Reserves assistant manager/player coach in March 2012.

Apps 10 Subs 1 Goals 0
Update 13/09/12

James Baker
A 24 year old (b 8/7/87) strong, fast raiding forward, he previously played for Braintree Town, Eastleigh, Welling United, Chelmsford City and Billericay Town before signing for AFC at the start of the 2010/11 season.  He suffered a knee injury in early November 2010 that required surgery, but did play in December 2010 as  he awaited the operation. The operation was done on 21st January 2010 and he returned soon afterwards. He finished the season as the club’s top scorer with 27 goals. Towards the end of April 2011 he signed a contract to stay with the club for the 2011/12 season. At the end of the 2011/12 season he won both the Managers Player and the Players Player of the Years Awards. He played throughout the 2011/12 season and was the top scorer with twenty-eight goals. In June 2012 he signed on again for the 2012/13 season, in August he broke his wrist that kept him out for until December 2012. On 11th April 2013 he signed an extension to his contract to stay with the club until the end of the 2013/14 season.

Apps Subs Goals
Updated 13/04/13

Sam Banya
A strong, well built black striker (b 26/02/75) in London he came to Suffolk when 18 months old and was fostered. In his early years he played for Bramford Road Old Boys at most youth age groups before in his mid teens returned  to the London area. He played for Surrey side Merstham before returning to Suffolk where he joined SIL side Felixstowe United and then Walton United before signing for Felixstowe Town where he played his first ECL game for them on 27th December 1997. He was then signed by Conference side Kettering Town where he played twenty games helping them to the FA trophy Fina, but did not play in it. He went on loan to Bedford Town  before buying out his contract to return to Suffolk and playing again at Felixstowe. He then joined Diss Town before when in  2001/02 he started the season at AFC, and scored 50 goals in 55 games. He had trials with Luton, Barnet and Bristol Rovers through that season but nothing came of them. Left the club at start of season 2002/03 and went to Maldon Town but returned in September 2002. In season 2003/04 his appearances were mainly from the bench, but he continued to score goals, as he did in 2004/05. At the end of season 2004/05 he was released from the club and in early June 2005 signed for Needham Market. At the end of August 2005 he left Needham and signed for Diss Town, but after being suspended early in the season he joined Ipswich Wanderers on 2nd December 2005. At the end of March 2006 when goals were in short supply at AFC he was signed yet again and scored on his first game back at Soham. He went on to score thirteen times in twelve games until the end of the season. He was not retained by the new manager and at the start of the 2006/07 season he signed yet again for Ipswich Wanderers but a knee injury kept him out for some time. He had an operation on his knee in October 2006, but came back to play before Christmas. At the start of the 2007/08 pre-season he turned out for Whitton United and signed for them in August 2007 and played until the end of the 2007/08 season. In September 2008 he was believed to have retired to concentrate on business interests. On 25th February 2009 he played for Felixstowe and Walton Reserves scoring a hat trick and on 28th February made his first team debut. On 23rd July 2009 he played for and scored in a pre-season game for Leiston, played a few first team games and reserve ones. Long Melford announced they had signed the 34 year old on 7th December 2009. The club stated he had left by mutual consent on 25th February 2010. In September 2010 he was playing for Whitton United, but on 13th October he was with Woodbridge Town and remained with them until the end of the season. He continued with ‘The Woodpeckers” and was still playing for them on 24th September 2011, however on 27th September 2011 Hadleigh United announced that he had transfered to them. He played only a couple of games and hurt a knee and in January 2012 he had ‘retired’. An operation was required on the knee, which was done an he was playing in a pre-season friendly and scoring for Hadleigh United on 7th July 2012. He was pressed into first team action in an FA Vase game for them on 8th December 2012.

Apps 228 Subs 12 Goals 135
Updated 09/12/2012

Danny Barber

A young defender, who came in January 2001, started only two games before being released and going back to Maldon Town. In 2002/03 he was playing for Heybridge Swifts and continued with them in 2003/04 and was still there in season 2004/05 and 2005/06 and 2006/07. He was still with the Scraley Road club at the start of the 2007/08 season, but on 18th February 2008 he left and signed for Boreham Wood FC. He remained with them at the start of the 2008/09 season but on 25th October 2008 he joined Dartford and on his debut ruptured his knee ligaments. He was fit again at the start of the 2009/10 season and remained at Dartford, however on 9th January 2010 he went on a months loan to Heybridge Swifts to get some match practice. It was later agreed that the loan would be extended until the end of the 2009/10 season. On 3rd June 2010 he signed permanently for Heybridge for the 2010/11 season and was with them at the end of the season in May 2011. He signed once again for the Scarley Road club for season 2011/12 in July 2011 and played with them until the middle of March 2012. In the early part of March he was subject of a seven day approach from AFC that was not proceeded with, but on 15th March he had signed for Enfield Town and won promotion with them at the end of the season. He remained with them at the start of the 2012/13 season, however on 27th September 2012 he left the club and re-signed for Heybridge Swifts.

Apps 3 Subs 2 Goals 0
Updated 01/10/12

Shane Barnes
An 18 year old defender (b 19/12/91)  signed from Cornard United on 5th March 2010 he made his debut the next day and won the Man of the Match award. He has represented Suffolk at under 18 level. In the middle of May 2010 he signed on for the 2010/11 season, but on 16th September he was allowed back on loan to the Blackhouse Lane club. On 3rd January 2011 he had transferred to Long Melford. On 19th July 2011 he signed with them for the 2011/12 season and played there throughout the season.

Apps  8 Subs 3 Goals 0
Updated 20/06/12

Ben Barnsley
An 18 year old recruited from Braintree Town, he signed for AFC on 5th March 2010 and snatched a last minute equaliser on his debut the next day. He previously played for both Tiptree United and Stanway Rovers. He returned to Braintree at the end of March 2010 and in November 2010 was playing for their reserve side. He was still with the Cressing Road side in November 2011. He remained with them at the start of the 2012/13 season and was still there in February 2013.

Apps 5 Subs 2 Goals 1
Update 15/02/13

Phil Battell
A defender who started his career with Sudbury Town and left for Tiptree in 1999 and played for them in the 2001/02 F.A. Vase Final. He then joined Long Melford for a couple of seasons before signing for AFC at the start of the 2005/06 season mainly to play in the Reserves. On 7th December he was named on the bench for the first team but did not get on, however on 17th December he started the game at Kings Lynn Reserves. He re-signed for the club at the start of the 2006/07 season, but played only one first team game, however he was regular in the reserve side. At the start of the 2007/08 he was still at the club, but left in early November 2007 to join Halstead Town. He was with them again at the start of the 2008/09 season, but suffered an early season injury and did not play many games. At the start of the 2009/10 season he was with Glemsford and Cavendish, however at the start of October 2009 he had joined Cornard United. An injury prevented many appearances and in the middle of October 2010 he was playing for Sudbury Athletic and still there in May 2011.

Apps 9 Subs 9 Goals 0
Updated 22/05/11

Michael Bavester
A goalkeeper signed in November 1999 when regular ‘keeper Dave Walton was injured, played seven times before returning to West Wratting. He later returned to Jewson League football with Tiptree United. In June 2004 ‘Bavvy’ returned to his home town team of Haverhill Rovers. He announced his retirement from playing towards the end of season 2005/06, but stated he would become the goalkeeping coach at the club. He was still there at the start of the 2006/07 season, and played a first team game in January 2007. During season 2009/10 he was the manager of West Wratting before resigning in July 2010 but remained on their committee. In August 2011 he played for Haverhill Sports Association and on 4th October 2011 he played in goal for Haverhill Rovers again. On 22nd March 2013 he was announced as AFC’s goalkeeping coach.

Apps 7 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 29/03/13

Ryan Bedingfield
A young goalkeeper, only 17 year of age, signed on when Nathan Munson could not play and the other two keepers at the club were both injured. He usually played for Brantham Athletic in the Suffolk and Ipswich League, but made his debut against Wivenhoe Town on 13th March 2007 and did well. In pre-season 2007/08 he played for AFC again, but signed for Ridgeons League side Stanway Rovers, however by November 2007 he was back at Brantham. At the start of the 2008/09 season he was playing for Harwich and Parkeston, however on 4th October 2008 he was back playing at Brantham. At the start of the 2009/10 season he was still with Brantham and was still there in April 2010. He was still with them in July 2010 playing in a pre-season game against AFC, but broke a leg at the end of October 2010. He returned from the injury and was still with Brantham at the end of the 2010/11 season in May 2011. He started the 2011/12 season still with Athletic and played throughout it. On 20th June 2012 the club stated that he had signed a two year contract with them.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 20/06/12

Shane Benham

A defender, he was a product of the Colne Academy and the AFC Sudbury Under 19′s side before joining the club and being part of the reserve set up at the start of the 2012/13 season. He made his first team debut in a SPC game at Bury Town on 9th October 2012.

Apps   Subs  Goals

Updated 10/10/2012

Gary Bennett
A diminutive striker (b 13/11/70), who oozed class. His football career started with Tottenham Hotspur in their youth set up, he however made his professional debut for Colchester United in 1988. In 1989/90 he played 65 League games scoring 13 goals. He then made 65 Conference appearances netting 25 goals  and played in the 1991/92 FA Trophy Final as a substitute. He was released in 1993 and went to Braintree Town where he again scored 25 goals. He had brief spells with Brentford, Woking and Dagenham and Redbridge before returning to Braintree where he notched 57 goals in the 1997/98 season. He joined AFC in June 1999 playing in the club’s first game but in February 2000 was transferred for £3000 to Chelmsford City. ‘Benno’ was re-signed at the start of the 2001/02 season for £1500, a good bit of business as he continued to score many classy goals. He remained at the club in season 2002/03, when he won the Player’s Player of the Year award and in 2003/04 when he won the leading Goal Scorer award. He won the same award the following season. Played in all three Vase finals, at the end of season 2004/05 he left the club. In early June 2005 he signed for Witham Town and played for the through the 2005/06 season when they won Ryman Division Two and were promoted to Ryman Division One North. Early in October 2006 he along with many of the senior players left the club. On the 23rd October 2006 he signed as player/assistant manager at Ipswich Wanderers. He signed for Ridgeons First Division side Tiptree United on 9th August 2007, he played only one game and then left. He was still working for the Post Office in September 2008 and not playing football. On 17th October 2010 he played for the Colchester United Legends along with several other AFC players, he scored.

Apps 243 Subs 10 Goals 172
Updated 18/10/10

Steve Benson
An East Anglian Cup tie at Long Melford in February 2003 just prior to an FA Vase game meant a call for the youngster who had played mainly for the club’s under 18’s. A defensive player, at the start of the 2003/04 season he joined Cornard United. Did not re-sign in 2004/05 and was at university in Birmingham. At the start of 2006/07 he signed for Sudbury Athletic and played against AFC Reserves in a pre-season friendly, but still at university. At the start of the 2007/08 season he was back having graduated and playing for Sudbury Athletic again. In October 2008 he was playing for Glemsford and Cavendish United, but at the start of the 2009/10 season he was back playing for Sudbury Athletic. On 19th January 2013 he appeared on ITV’s Take Me Out and had a Eaton Socan FC shirt on and he was in their 2012/13 squad.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 19/01/13

Aaron Benstead
A goalkeeper signed on 21st October 2008 after injury struck Paul Catley. Born 28/12/82 he was previously with Cambridge City as a youth, then played for Newmarket Town where he was Player of the Year in 2003/04, before joining King’s Lynn in May 2005. Leaving The Linnets in November 2005 and moving to London he played for Wealdstone before signing for Mildenhall Town in December 2005. He re-signed for King’s Lynn in January 2006 before playing for Haverhill Rovers. In the 2007/08 season he played for Tiptree United and did so again at the start of the 2008/09 season. He played only two games for the club and was later playing for Canvey Island Reserves. In August 2009 he was at Millfield playing for Hadleigh United and at the end of the season won the Players Player of the Year award. He remained with the Millfield club at the start of the 2010/11 season and was still there on 27th November 2010. On 27th January 2011 he signed a contract to keep him at the club until 2013. White Ensign announced on 12th March 2011 he had signed or them but he continued with Hadleigh. On 13th June 2011 Hadleigh announced that he had be released by mutual consent. At the start of the 2011/12 season he had joined Maldon and Tiptree but on 8th September 2011 he had transferred to Witham Town. On 19th November 2011 was at The New Croft playing for Haverhill Rovers again. Near to the the start of the 2012/13 season, 21st August 2012 he was playing for Cambridge University Press.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 23/08/12

Darren Bethell
He started his career with his local side West Bergholt United in the Essex & Suffolk Border League before he joined Cornard United. In December 2001 he played for Norwich City Reserves after trials with both Everton and Cambridge United. In April 2002 he played for Charlton Reserves and at the start of 2002/03 he did pre-season training with them. In September 2002 he went for trials with both Preston North End and Oxford United. In December 2002 he was bought by Wivenhoe but Cornard re-signed him in October 2003. In season 2004/05 at Cornard he was their leading marksman with 24 goals from 35 games. Signed by AFC in June 2005 on a two year contract and made his debut on 16th July 2005. He played for AFC during season 2005/06 mainly coming on from the bench. In early March 2006 he was loaned out to Wivenhoe Town for the rest of the season. He came back to AFC at the start of the 2006/07 season when the new manager was in place and continued playing for AFC. After missing a number of games through injury he made a comeback at the start of February 2007 but damaged his knee cartilage and had an operation on it on 12th March. He played a couple of times in April 2007 but suffered further problems that required more surgery. The surgery was re-done but he never appeared for pre-season training at the start of the 2007/08 season. On 18th August 2007 he was in the Halstead Town squad for an F.A. Cup tie. Wivenhoe Town re-signed him on 7th December 2007. Towards the end of January 2008 he was transfer listed by the Essex club, and on 29th February he signed once again for AFC. He played until the end of the season then in June 2008 he signed for Brantham Athletic. On 1st November 2008 he was in the Harwich and Parkeston side that had just appointed Mark Morsley as manager. At the start of the 2009/10 season he remained with the Royal Oak club, however at the beginning of September 2009 he transferred to Needham Market. He played throughout the 2009/10 season winning promotion and remained with the club at the start of the 2010/11 season. On 1st November 2010 he was transferred to Leiston, but on 13th January 2011 he was placed on the transfer list by them. FC Clacton signed him on 4th February 2011 and he scored on his debut for them the next day. On 17th September 2011 he started his first game for Stanway Rovers. On 24th July 2012 he was wearing an FC Clacton shirt again in a pre-season game, and scored in the opening league game of the 2012/13 season for them. 

Apps 69 Subs 16 Goals 14
Updated 05/08/12

Paul Betson

A slightly built wide man ( b 29/05/75) who had previously been with Braintree Town, ‘Betsy’ signed at the start of 1999/2000 season and was a substitute in the club’s very first game. He was the winner of the First Team Manager’s Player of the Year 2000/01. He played consistently in seasons 2001/02, 2002/03, 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06. He was retained by the new manager at the start of season 2006/07, but on 20th October 2006 he was transfer listed when he was the club’s leading appearance maker. On 6th December 2006 he signed for Ipswich Wanderers and played throughout the 2006/07 season for them. He did not start the 2007/08 season with a club as he awaited a knee operation, which he had in October 2007. In November 2007 he was playing Sunday League football in Bury for Bennett Arms. At Christmas time 2007 he signed for Felixstowe and Walton United and was an unused substitute on Boxing Day. He was with them again at the start of the 2008/09 campaign, but on 24th November 2008 the club announced that he had left. He was reported to have joined Diss Town on 9th December 2008, but subsequently terms could not be agreed. In late February 2009 he signed for Newmarket Town and played for them on 28th. At the end of June 2009 it was announced that for the 2009/10 season he had signed on for Norwich United, however on 31st July 2009 he had a change of heart and remained with Newmarket Town. At the end of the 2009/10 season he won the Players Player of the Year award. The start of the 2010/11 season saw him playing for Lakenheath and he was still there at the end of the season. He continued with the West Suffolk club in 2011/12 and was playing for them in March 2012 at the age of thirty-seven. On 5th July Newmarket Town announced that for the 2012/13 season he has re-signed for them.

Apps 376 Subs 17 Goals 45
Updated 05/07/12

Marcus Bier
A goalkeeper, who had played for Mark Morsley at Needham Market, was signed on 20th July 2006 as cover for the position. Some of his previous clubs included Bury Town, Sudbury Town Reserves and Stowmarket Town. He played a number of pre-season friendlies for AFC and was then loaned out to Mistley United in the Essex and Suffolk Border League. On 13th January 2007, Nathan Munson reported sick and with the Reserve keeper Barry Simpson injured, he was recalled and made his debut against Waltham Forest. At the start of the 2007/08 season he was still playing for Mistley United. He remained there in 2008/09, but was injured early on. On 21st March 2009 he made an appearance for Harwich and Parkeston due to an injury crisis, his first game for eighteen months.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 11/09/12

John Bishop
Strong, tall central defender, he was previously with Sudbury Town, Braintree Town and Chelmsford City was signed on a cold night at Witham in December 2001. At the start of season 2003/04 ‘Bish’ was made vice-captain of the side. His last game for the club was the final of the Suffolk Premier Cup at Portman Road Ipswich on 21st May 2004 when he was Captain for the night. John returned to his roots of Essex Intermediate Football and signed for Sandon Royals for season 2004/05 and even scored in his first pre-season friendly. During season 2007/08 he was playing for Writtle Vets.

Apps 102 Subs 20 Goals 12

Updated 20/06/12

Ollie Blackwell
A tall central defender (b 15/10/82), he started his career with Colchester United where he was their youth team captain, however he was released by them on 28th March 2002 when he joined Billericay Town and made his debut three days later. In March 2003 he was playing for Braintree Town. In August 2004 he was with Bishop’s Stortford from where he joined Maldon Town making his debut on 26th August 2006. A successful cricketer for Coggeshall he signed for AFC at the start of the 2008/09 season and went onto make fifty appearances. On 10th May 2009 he re-signed for the 2009/10 season, but was unavailable during the season due to work commitments. He was still playing cricket for Coggeshall in the summer of 2010.

Apps 50 Subs 4 Goals 4
Updated 30/08/10

Danny Bloomfield
Born 28/07/82, as a youngster he had trials with both Luton Town and Colchester United before joining Felixstowe and Walton United. When 18 years old the striker came on as substitute and scored in Norwich City Reserves’ 4-0 victory over Gillingham on 14th December 2000. He signed for Norwich City in January 2001 on a contract to last until the end of the season. He was offered a one year full-time contract on 10th May 2001. After the start of the 2001/02 season he joined Kings Lynn on a months loan in November 2001 and scored on his debut against Grantham. His stay was extended into December before it was decided he would return to Norwich and go out on loan to another Football League side. He played again for Norwich Reserves but in March 2002 he was released. He had trial games for Cambridge United, Southend United and Bournemouth and was invited back for pre-season training at the start of the 2002/03 season. He did however start pre-season with Cambridge United before going to train with Bournemouth, then returning to East Anglia to play for Cambridge City against Cambridge United. He signed a one year rolling contract with Bournemouth in August 2002. He went on loan to Cambridge City in mid October 2002 and signed permanently for them in November 2002 and stayed until the end of the 2003/04 season. He rejoined King’s Lynn on May 16th 2004 signing a two year deal with the then Dr Martens Eastern Division champions. There were rumours of a move on a number of occasions until on 2nd January 2006, he was finalising a transfer to Histon for an undisclosed five figure fee believed to be over £5000. This transfer was completed on 2nd February 2006 He transferred to Wivenhoe for a five figure sum in December 2006. He managed to score just once in twelve appearances for Wivenhoe before he returned to King’s Lynn in a surprise transfer at the beginning of March 2007 on a two year deal with the Linnets. After helping Lynn to the Southern League title, Danny found it hard to break into the Lynn team competing in the Conference South during 2008/9 and on 28th November 2008, he parted company with Lynn by mutual consent and signed for Cambridge City. On 5th March 2009 he left and signed for AFC until the end of the 2009/10 season. ‘Bloomers’ stayed with the club until 25th January 2010 when he was released and joined Lowestoft Town on a two year contract. He played for the Trawermen against AFC on 16th November 2010. On 23rd December 2010 he was released by mutual consent and signed for Wroxham. On 19th July 2011 he was playing for Needham Market and on 20th he was announced by them as having signed for the 2011/12 season. He played throughout the season and on 31st May the club stated he would be remaining for the 2012/13 season. On 16th October 2012 he was announced as becoming player/coach with ‘The Marketmen’. Needham announced on 22nd January 2013 that he wanted to prolong his playing career and put coaching on hold, and that a deal had been for him to join Hadleigh United. During the last week of March 2013 he left Hadleigh and returned to Needham to coach the academy and playing with them in the club’s reserve side.

Apps 37 Subs 3 Goals 16
Updated 31/03/13

Gary Bloomfield
A tall central defender (b 17/05/77), he played in the Sudbury area from a young age and joined from Sudbury Athletic at the start of 2004/05 to play in the reserve side. He played a couple of Eastern Floodlight League games during that season, but left at the end of it, having won the Reserve Team Players Player of the Year. He joined Bures United and played for them in 2005/06. He then in 2006/07 went to Hadleigh United Reserves, but in October 2008 he was with Long Melford Reserves. At the start of the 2009/10 season he was playing for Wivenhoe Town Reserves and he was still there in October 2010. At the start of 2010/11 season he started playing for Wivenhoe Vets in the North Essex Vets League and was still with them in January 2013.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 05/01/13

Stuart Boardley
Born in Ipswich on 14th February 1985, he joined Ipswich Town as a youth player, but he was involved in a car crash that hampered his progress and was released in May 2004, although he did play in a pre-season game in July 2004 at Barnet for an Ipswich Town X1. He joined Torquay United and made his debut for them in August of that year and made eight more appearances before being released. He returned to East Anglia and signed for Long Melford in the summer of 2005 before joining Leiston in November 2005. A midfielder he signed for AFC in June 2007 and made his league debut on 18th August 2007 he played throughout the 2007/08 season, but left at the end of it. ‘Boards’ re-signed for Leiston on a two year contract on 16th June 2008. At the end of the season he won three club awards. He remained with the Victory Road club at the start of the 2010/11 season and was there at the end of the season winning promotion on the way. At the start of the 2011/12 season 20th August 2011 he was still with Leiston and played throughout it winning promotion with them at the end of the season. In December 2012 he was still playing for Leiston and in the first week of April 2013 had signed an extension to his contract to stay with them until the end of the 2014/15 season.

Apps 50 Subs 0 Goals 9
Update 08/04/13

Craig Boon
A former Sudbury Town youth team player, he was with Sudbury Wanderers before the club was formed. He played regularly in goal for AFC Reserves and very occasionally for the first team when regular custodians were injured. ‘Booner’ was the Club’s Young Player of the Year in season 1999/00. Got injured in the Border League Cup Final of 2003/04 and at the start of season 2004/05 he did not sign for the club. He did not play for anyone in 2005/06 and was still not playing at the start of 2006/07. In June 2007 he had no intention of playing football again due to the injury to his knee. However he was playing cricket for Lavenham, and was still doing so in August 2009. He was still there in July 2010 and was again playing for them in August 2011.

Apps 3 Subs 9 Goals 0
Updated 22/08/11

Ben Bowditch

A midfield player (b 19/02/84) he started his career at Tottenham Hotspur, then Colchester United (6 apps), Akademisk Boldklub (9 apps) (Copenhagen) before joining Barnet (8 apps). He has played for a number of non-league clubs, Yeading (6 apps), Cambridge City (36 apps 4 goals), St Albans City (11 apps) , Bishop’s Stortford and in season 2011/12 Thurrock (26 apps 3 goals) and latterly Concord Rangers. He has also represented England at Under 16 (21 caps), 17 (3 caps), 19 (7 caps) , and under 20 (5 caps) levels. He joined AFC on 16th August 2012 played seven games and then on 27th September joined AFC Hornchurch. He however returned to AFC at the start of December 2012 but on 19th February 2013 he was released. On March 1st he signed for Maldon and Tiptree.

Apps 14 Subs 0 Goals 4

Updated 02/03/13

Lee Boylan

A prolific goal scorer (b 02/09/78) he began his career with West Ham United in 1995 and rose from the youth team to play one game in the Premier League, as a substitute in the 1996/97 season. He went on loan to Kingstonian in 1998, and on return to West Ham was released in 1999. He had brief spells with Trelleborg in Sweden and with Exeter City, before re-joining Kingstonian on a permanent basis in 2000. He left in November 2000, and he had brief spells with both Hayes and Stevenage during the final months of the 2000/01 season. Ahead of the 2001/02 season he signed for Canvey Island in the Conference, playing 210 games and scoring 176 goals during his five-year stay. When they resigned from the Conference in 2006, he joined Grays Athletic on a one-year contract, but was later loaned to Chelmsford City. He joined Cambridge United just before the 2007/08 season and the club just missed on promotion to the Football League. He joined Stevenage in June 2008 and scored in their FA Trophy Final win at Wembley in May 2009. He was also part of the side that won promotion to the Football League the following season. Released by Stevenage in January 2011 he subsequently re-joined Chelmsford City in March of the same year. After just five appearances for Chelmsford, he signed for Thurrock for the rest of the 2010/11 season. He signed for AFC at the start of the 2012/13 season. His appearances were interrupted by injury but he still scored goals before being released on 27th December 2012. On 11th January 2013 Maldon and Tiptree announced that he had joined them and lost in the Ryman North play-off final with them.

Apps 17 Subs 0 Goals 10

Updated 06/05/13

Phil Boyland
He was a player with a number of clubs including Bury Town, Braintree Town and appeared in Sudbury Town’s F.A. Vase side of 1989. He went onto become manager at Braintree Town, Bury Town and Harwich & Parkeston before taking a backseat from football. When his son Pip went to Needham Market he went to watch but was eventually persuaded to become part of the management team. He came to AFC with manager Mark Morsley as his assistant at the start of the 2006/07 season. He decided to resign from his position at the end of the season and left the club. In October 2010 he continued to watch his son play and was employed as a customer relations manager with a Colchester car dealer. This continued throughout the 2011/12 season.
Updated 20/06/12

Pip Boyland
A young defender  (b06/04/86) whose real name is Phillip, left Harwich and Parkeston during the 2003/04 season and went to play at Needham Market. There he played under AFC manager Mark Morsley. At the start of the 2006/07 season he came to AFC with his previous manager. He is the son of former Sudbury Town player and AFC assistant manager Phil Boyland. On 18th January 2007 he signed a contract extension until the end of the 2007/08 season. At the end of the 2006/07 season he was selected for a FA X1 but the notification came too late for him to play. At the end of the 2006/07 he was placed on the transfer list, he was then released from his contract and signed for Leiston at the start of August 2007. He played there throughout 2007/08, but on 1st July 2008 signed for Wivenhoe Town. It was announced on 22nd August that he had joined Harwich and Parkeston on a month’s loan. He was recalled back on 22nd September, but after a change of manager he re-joined Needham Market on 18th November 2008. In July 2009 he was still with the Bloomfields club and stayed with them throughout the season winning promotion. He signed once again for them at the start of the 2010/11 season and in November 2010 signed a contract with them until the end of the 2011/12 season. On 15th June 2011 he signed an extension to his contract for another year and was also named as the club’s vice-captain. He played throughout the 2011/12 season and won the Supporters Player of the Year Award at the end of it. He stayed with ‘The Marketmen’ for season 2012/13 and was appointed their captain, and again won the Supporters Player of the Year award. In May 2013 he announced he would be going travelling the world when the 2013/14 season starts.

Apps 47 Subs 11 Goals 0
Updated 06/05/13

Tommy Bradlaugh

At the start of the 2006/07 season this midfield youngster (b 23/06/86) was signed by the then new manager Mark Morsley from Suffolk and Ipswich league side Ransomes Sports. He started several games bur sustained a knee injury and in November 2006 was loaned out to Ridgeons Premier League side Needham Market to get some match fitness. On the 21st of December he was recalled from that loan. On the 8th January 2007 he was released from his contract with AFC and on 11th January he signed for Diss Town. Towards the end of February 2007 he transferred his SIL registration from Ransomes Sports to Ipswich Athletic and played for them. At the start of the 2007/08 season he was still with them and remained there in September 2008. In September 2009 he was playing for Grundisburgh and was still there in April 2010 and was still there at the start of the 2010/11 season. He continued with Grundisburgh and was then on 8th October 2011. On 20th July 2012 he was announced as a new signing for Mildenhall Town, however on 27th they had decided to part company. On 28th July he was playing for Felixstowe and Walton United in a pre-season game, but on the opening day of the league season turned out for Whitton United, where he remained throughout the 2012/13 season.

Apps 4 Subs 9 Goals 0
Updated 06/05/13

Gavin Brightwell
A very raw youngster, he joined the reserves in season 2004/05 from Long Melford Under 18’s and was in and out of the side. He played in two Eastern Floodlight League games during that season, and stayed with the club until the end of the 2005/06 season. During that time he spend time playing for Bures United, at the start of the 2006/07 season he left and joined Hadleigh United playing there in their reserve side. In early November 2007 he joined Long Melford Reserves, but in September 2008 he was with Glemsford and Cavendish United. In the middle of October 2008 he had returned to Long Melford, and re-signed for them at the start of season 2009/10. In April 2010 he was back with Glemsford and Cavendish. At the start of 2010/11 he was back with Long Melford Reserves, but in March 2011 was again with the Glemsford club as they reached the final of the Suffolk Junior Cup. They went onto win the trophy defeating Leiston St Margarets 3-1.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 5/05/2011

Michael Brothers
A wide midfield player, he signed for the club on 12th January 2007 from Wivenhoe Town. He started with Colchester United and then played for Harwich & Parkeston, before joining Needham Market in season 2005/06 where Mark Morsley was the manager. He left there to join Maldon Town, but at the start of the 2006/07 was with Wivenhoe Town and during the early part of the season he played several games on loan back at Harwich & Parkeston, before joining AFC. Made his debut against Waltham Forest on 13th January 2007 as a substitute, however at the end of the season he was placed on the transfer list. He was released from his contract and on 21st July 2007 he played in pre-season game for AFC Hornchurch, and later signed for the club. In the middle of September 2007 he left and signed for Leiston,, but on 19th November he decided to go back to Wivenhoe Town. On 8th February 2008 Wivenhoe announced he had gone back to AFC Hornchurch, and on 3rd May he played again for Leiston. Brantham Athletic announced on 11th June 2008 they had signed him for the 2008/09 season. He remained there until 22nd January 2009 when he signed once again for Leiston, and was still there at the start of the 2009/10 season. He played throughout and signed again for them in 2010/11 and was still there in November 2010. He won promotion with Leiston in April 2011 and started the 2011/12 season on 20th August 2011 with the Victory Road club. On 25th November 2011 he went on a months loan to Harwich and Parkeston, this was extended to end on 24th January 24th 2012. He returned to Leiston and played until the end of the season winning promotion with them. On 2nd June Leiston announced that he had left the Victory Road club. On 20th June 2012 Brantham Athletic announced that he had re-joined them for 2012/13, he stayed with them until 6th December 2012 when he re-signed yet again for Leiston. In the first week of April 2013 had signed an extension to his contract to stay with them until the end of the 2014/15 season.

Apps 25 Subs 1 Goals 3

Updated 08/04/13

Danny Brown
A strong tall defender (b 06/03/85) with previous experience at Football League clubs Chelsea and Wycombe Wanderers, he played for two seasons with Basingstoke Town and in season 2007/08 both Harrow Borough and Chesham United. He signed on for the club on 30th July 2008, after playing only fifteen minutes in a competitive game an FA Cup tie against Lowestoft Town, he was released on 6th September 2008. He did not play again until January 2009 when he joined Burnham. At the start of pre-season 2009/10 he re-appeared at King’s Marsh and played on 18th July 2009, and remained until the end of the 2009/10 season, April 2010. In the middle of May 2010 he signed again for the 2010/11 season, he started the season but on 16th September he was released. In the middle of October he had signed and was playing for Aveley, however after a change of manager in November 2010 he was reported to have hung up his boots. In December 2011 he was believed to be only playing local Sunday league football. On 25th August 2012 he was playing Essex Olympian League football with Southminster St Leonards.

Apps 51 Subs 6 Goals 2
Updated 28/08/12

Ian Brown

Ian Brown – First Team Coach

He started his career with as a schoolboy with Luton Town before making one appearance for Birmingham City. He was then with a number of local clubs, Felixstowe Town, Harwich and Parkeston, Stowmarket Town before going to Chelmsford City. He then went into the Football League with Bristol City also playing at both Colchester United and Northampton Town. He then joined Sudbury Town followed by Cambridge City,  Felixstowe and Walton United, Braintree Town, Witham Town, Clacton Town and Maldon Town. From 2005 he was with Whitton United and became their manager in 2009 leaving two years later and joining for a short time Hadleigh United on the coaching side. He joined AFC as first team coach late in October 2012 and on 13th March 2013 he was put in charge of team affairs along with Michael Shinn after the resignation of Chris Tracey.

Updated 29/04/13

Jacob Brown
A young midfielder ( b 14/07/94) signed from the Cambridge City youth set up at the start of the 2010/11 season, made his first team début as a substitute at Lowestoft on 16th November 2010. He played for the club’s reserve side for the rest of the season and won the Young Player of the Year Award at the end of the 2010/11 season. He signed again for the club at the start of the 2011/12 season and played again for the first team on 13th December 2011. At the end of the season he won The Managers Player of the Year award. On 27th July 2012 he was added to the first team squad for the 2012/13 season. On 1st August 2012 he went to play for Haverhill Rovers on a dual registration and scored on his debut on 4th August. On 29th September 2012 he was recalled and played for the first team, he remained in the squad until the start of March 2013 when he went back to Haverhill. On 19th March 2013 Haverhill had cancelled his Thurlow Nunn registration and he played for Diss Town but was still registered with AFC for Ryman games.

Apps Subs Goals
Updated 20/03/2013

Josh Brown
A young midfield player with plenty of pace, he joined the club on the eve of the 2009/10 season. He had previously had trials with a number of Football League clubs he was the son of ex-Sudbury Town forward, Ian. He played only one game for the club before being released on 26th August 2009, and he went to play for Whitton United. He was with them throughout the 2010/11 season, and continued again for the 2011/12 campaign.

Apps 1 Subs 2 Goals 0

Updated 22/08/11

Tony Bruce
A tall midfield player he came to play reserve team football, having been with Sudbury Athletic, Cornard United and Long Melford previously. He played in two Eastern Floodlight games in season 2004/05, scoring a goal in a game at Saffron Walden Town. He played until the end of the 2005/06 and played in the winning Suffolk Junior Cup side of April 2006 at Portman Road then stopped playing.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 1

Updated 26/03/12

Chris Bryan

A striker, 28 years old when he joined AFC on 23^rd March 2012 after being released by Chelmsford City earlier in that week. He started his football career with Halstead Town and in 2008/09 was their Player of The Year. He left them in July 2010 to join Heybridge Swifts where he stayed until being transferred to Chelmsford City at the beginning of February 2012. He was not retained at the end of the 2011/12 season, and on 2nd July was announced as a new signing for the 2012/13 at Maldon and Tiptree.

Apps 7 Subs 0 Goals 2

Updated 03/07/12

David Bryant

A forward who played for Maldon Town, Aveley, Thurrock, Boreham Wood and Braintree Town, he joined AFC on 21st August 2012 and made his debut the following day. He was released from the club on 23rd September 2012. On 5th January 2013 he had joined and played for East Thurrock United.

Apps 7 Subs 0 Goals 3

Updated 05/01/13

Craig Bussens
A right sided midfield player (b 28/10/89) he was with Norwich City in their academy until being released at the end of the 2006/07 season. He was snapped up by Cambridge United and after playing for CRC was signed as a professional at the end of the 2007/08 season. In his younger days he captained both Norfolk and Cambridgeshire at youth level. He signed for AFC on 5th September 2008 initially on loan until 1st January 2009, this was later extended to the end of the 2008/09 season. On 3rd July 2009 he signed for Lowestoft Town, and was still there in April 2010. He remained at Crown Meadow at the start of the 2010/11 season, however on 12th November 2010 he went on a two month loan period to Dereham Town. He remained with the Magpies for the rest of the season. On 23th July 2011 he was back with Lowestoft Town. At the start of the 2011/12 season he was with Norwich United, but on 4th September transferred to Needham Market. His stay there was short-lived as on 22nd September he had left and signed for Cambridge City, and he was still there in April 2012. On 11th June 2012 it was announced he had re-signed for AFC for the 2012/13 season, however this did not materialise. On 4th August 2012 he was playing for Dereham Town again and at the end of the season 2012/13 season won promotion with them winning the Thurlow Nunn Premier League.

Apps 47 Subs 0 Goals 7
Updated 12/05/13

Craig Calver
A front running nineteen year old first year professional  (b 20/01/91) at Southend United when he signed for the club on 26th March 2010. He made his debut the following day and scored. While with the ‘Seasiders’ he had loan spells with St Albans City and Braintree Town. He remained with the club at the start of the 2010/11 season, and in July 2010 went for a trial with Yeovil Town, playing the second half of a game against Swansea City. On 24th July he played a part in a testimonial game against a Manchester United XI and two days later was offered and accepted a one year contract with ‘The Glovers’. He made a few appearances before on 13th March 2011 going back on loan to Braintree Town, he played only a couple of times as a substitute before returning to Yeovil. On 5th May 2011 they announced that they would not be offering him terms for the 2011/12 season. He trialled with Histon before Bishop’s Stortford included him in their first pre-season game on 16th July 2011. He however transferred to Kings Lynn Town on 1st September 2011, before on 23rd September re-signing for AFC. On 28th October he signed for Haverhill Rovers on dual registration basis. He was not retained at the end of the 2011/12 season, and on 30th July 2012 he signed for Chelmsford City. He remained with them until 22nd December 2012 when he signed dual registration and joined St Neots Town, but on 18th February 2013 they announced that he had left them. On 27th March 2013 he had joined and scored for Cambridge City.

Apps 14 Subs 0 Goals 2

Updated 29/03/13

Neil Calver
He was signed by manager Gary Harvey at the start of season 2003/04, a tenacious midfield player previously with Woodbridge Town and Ipswich Athletic. In November 2003 ‘Calvs’ was rewarded by signing a new contract until the end of the 2004/05 season. He was unfortunate to get sent off in the F.A. Vase Final of 2003/04 against Winchester City. He played in the 2004/05 final and scored from the spot in the 3-2 defeat. He played throughout 2005/06 picking an enormous amount of yellow cards on the way and continued on in season 2006/07 with the club. On 11th January 2007 he signed a contract extension until the end of the 2007/08 season and was also appointed the club’s Vice-Captain. During the 2006/07 season picked up a record 23 yellow cards, the most in the country. He was awarded the Goal of the Season award for 2006/07 for his goal at home against Ramsgate in the F.A. Trophy. He remained with the club at the start of the 2007/08 season but in the middle of October 2007 he asked to be placed on the transfer list and the request was granted. On 25th October 2007 he was sold for an undisclosed fee to Felixstowe and Walton United. He was with the ‘Seasiders’ again at the start of the 2008/09 season. On 9th February 2009 Hadleigh United announced that he had signed for them. After the end of the season on 4th June 2009, Leiston stated he had signed for them for the 2009/10 season. He was still there at the start of season 2010/11 and played throughout the season winning promotion in the process. The 2011/12 season saw him again with the Victory Road club and another promotion campaign, however he was not retained and on 15th May 2012 joined Hadleigh United once again.

Apps 205 Subs 17 Goals 46
Updated 15/05/12

Paul Catley
A very experienced goalkeeper, he signed for the club at the start of the 2008/09 season. He had played for Sudbury Town in their Southern League days, as well as Maldon Town, Chelmsford City, Witham Town and Braintree Town. After a series of niggling injuries he left the club around 20th December 2008. At the start of the 2009/10 season he was a goalkeeping coach at Braintree Town and still with them in November 2010. He continued at Cressing Road and was still there in September 2011.

Apps 15 Subs 1 Goals 0
Updated 19/09/11

Liam Cawthery
A young midfield player, he was signed from Long Melford in February 2009 to play in the reserves. He had played in the Melford youth set up and Ridgeons side, he also had a short spell with Glemsford and Cavendish United in early February 2009. He made his debut as a substitute away at Chasetown on 21st March 2009. On 4th August 2009 he re-signed for Long Melford and he remained with them in April 2011, however he suffered from a knee injury  that did not heal until December 2012.

Apps 2 Subs 4 Goals 0
Updated 24/12/12

Danny Charge

He started off with Waltham Forest as a youth player and made his debut for them in January 2006 which was his one and only appearance before joining up with Dagenham and Redbridge reserve team and then earning a two-year contract with them. In November 2008, he joined Hitchin Town on loan playing four games for them before returning to Dagenham. He made his first-team debut in April 2009 but had his contract cancelled by mutual consent in August the same year. After his release he signed for then Conference side Grays Athletic leaving the club in December 2009, having scored three times in thirteen appearances. Hemel Hempstead Town was his next club until the end of the 2009/10 season playing a total of 14 times for the club, scoring twice, before leaving the club in May 2010. In July 2010, he went on trial with Football League side Leyton Orient, but was unsuccessful in earning a contract. Ahead of the 2010/11 season he signed for Billericay Town scoring on his debut. In September 2010, he went on a two-week trial with Stevenage but was unsuccessful returning to Billericay in October 2010. He went on to have a spell at Borehamwood before returning to Grays Athletic in January 2011 where he played for a while before suffering a bad ankle injury that force him to stop playing. At the start of the 2011/12 season he began to play again after the injury healed sufficiently, but only at a low level, before signing for AFC on 11th February 2012. He made his debut on 18th February at Chatham Town, however he was released on 23rd March 2012. On 31st March he rejoined Grays Athletic, but left in May 2012. He re-signed for AFC on 10th July 2012 and played until being released  again on 22nd November 2012. At the beginning of February 2013 he had joined Eton Manor.

Apps 19  Subs 5  Goals 3

Updated 06/02/13

Michael Cheetham
An idustrious midfield player (b 30/06/67) he joined on amalgamation, from Sudbury Town. ‘Cheets’ had played professionally with Ipswich Town (4 Apps), Cambridge United (£50,000 in 1990 132 Apps 22 goals) and Chesterfield (free transfer 1994, 5 Apps) and Colchester United (37 Apps 3 goals). He won the First Team Player’s Player of the Year in 1999/00. He became assistant manager during season 2001/02 but declined the full job during 2002/03. Made coach to new manager Gary Harvey at the start of season 2003/04 and in December 2003 signed a new contract to keep him at the club until the end of the 2004/05 season. He continued in his role as coach through season 2005/06 making only one substitute appearance along the way despite being named numerous times as a substitute. In April 2006 he announced that along with manager Gary Harvey he would not continue in season 2006/07. He was awarded a testimonial game at the start of 2006/07 and Colchester United played at King’s Marsh in the game in July 2006, and he made a brief appearance in it before bowing out. He remained out of football but did watch a game at King’s Marsh in September 2008. In July 2009 he continued his career as a courier, as he still was in October 2010. He returned to King’s Marsh as a sponsors guest in April 2011 and did so again in August 2012.

Apps 204 Subs 96 Goals 27
Updated 11/09/12

David Chick
A former England Schoolboy international (b 27/02/85), he signed for the Norwich City Academy in 2001, where he remained until February 2004 when he signed for King’s Lynn. There he trialled with Boston United, Cheltenham Town and Bristol Rovers but stayed until the end of the season. At the start of 2005/06 he signed for Cambridge United but was released in February 2006. In October 2006 he had a trial with Peterborough United, but joined Cambridge City and stayed for the rest of the 2006/07 season. In September 2007 he joined Boston United, but in October 2007 he returned to Cambridge City leaving after one substitute appearance. In October 2008 he signed for Bishop’s Stortford and joined AFC Sudbury on 11th December 2008 to play initially in an FA Trophy game, but remained with the club into 2009. He was injured in the middle of March and not seen again. On 15th January 2010 he signed once again for Bishop’s Stortford. Lowestoft Town announced that he had signed for them on 13th September 2010, he however suffered a fot injury that restricted his appearances. He was with them still in March 2012, then went to Australia and joined Melbourne based side Hume FC.

Apps 6 Subs 1 Goals 0
Updated 23/03/13

Steve Chisholm
A midfielder (b 02/09/88), he came through the youth system at Long Melford, making his first team debut in Ridgeons Division One football in the 2006/07 season when he went on to score 12 goals from 52 starts. He signed for AFC in February 2009 and after a few reserve team games made his debut at Chasetown on 21st March 2009. He remained at the club at the start of the 2009/10 season, but also played for Glemsford and Cavendish in April 2010. He won both the Reserve Managers and Reserve Players Player of the Year awards for 2009/10. He remained with the club in season 2010/11 and was playing for the reserves in May 2011. At the start of the 2011/12 season he returned again to King’s Marsh and was captain of the reserve side throughout it. The 2012/13 season saw him still playing at The MEL Group Stadium and still captain and at the end of the season win the Suffolk Senior Reserve Cup.

Apps Subs Goals
Updated 18/05/13

Nathan Clarke
A strong, well built defender (b 13/2/89) signed from Walsham-le-Willows on 2nd March 2010, having previously played for both Bury Town and Mildenhall Town. He signed again for the club at the start of the 2010/11 season , however on 6th January 2011 he was released from his contract by mutual consent and joined Norwich United, where he was in May 2011. He started pre-season 2011/12 with the Blofield based club but on 9th August 2011 he re-signed for AFC. He played throughout the 2011/12 season and won both the Players Player Of The Year and Supporters Player Of The Year Awards. On 24th May 2012 he announced that he would not be returning to the club for season 2012/13. On 31st May it was announced that he had signed for Needham Market, despite needing a groin operation. The operation was done in the last week of June 2012. His recovery was swift and he played part of a pre-season game at the beginning of August 2012. On 22nd January 2013 Needham announced he was joining Walsham le Willows on loan until the end of the season. This however changed on 25th March 2013 when he signed on loan for AFC for the remainder of the 2012/13 season, but this did not happen as on 18th April 2013 he had left the club again.

Apps   Subs  Goals
Updated 20/04/13

Sam Clarke
Signed at the start of the 2008/09 season, a central defensive midfield player (b 7/9/87) known for his tough tackling. He previously played for Maldon Town and Great Wakering Rovers where he was the captain of the side at the tender age of nineteen. He collected thirteen yellow cards in season 2008/09. In the middle of April 2009 he signed a contract to stay with the club for season 2009/10, which he did. At the start of the 2010/11 season he was made Vice-Captain of the club and was playing in November 2010. He took over the captaincy in October 2010 and on 22nd March 2011 signed a contract to keep him at the club until the end of the 2011/12 season. July 2012 saw him retained by the club for the 2012/13 season. On 27th August 2012 he broke his right arm which saw him unable to resume training until being  given the all clear by the hospital on 21st January 2013 but another injury put him out again until March 2013. On 21st March he signed an extension to his contract to stay at the club until the end of 2013/14. On 17th May 2013 he was presented with the club’s Merit Award for 2012/13.

Apps Subs Goals
Updated 18/05/13

Andrew Claydon
He was a chef by trade when he joined the club having previously played for Newmarket Town. ‘Porky’ (b 8/06/78) signed at the start of season 2000/01 and went on to score 32 goals that term. Had a trial at Norwich City and was watched on a number of times by various Football League clubs as he continued to net. He won the Supporters Player of the Year in 2002/03 and in December 2003 signed a new contract to keeping him at the club until the end of the 2004/05 season. In October 2004 had to have keyhole surgery to his knee keeping out for eight weeks, but came back and signed an extension to his contract to the end of 2005/06. In December 2005 he became a postal worker in Newmarket. He was captured on contract by the new manager at the start of the 2006/07 season and played on for the club. On 13th February 2007 he signed a contract to keep him at the club until the end of the 2007/08 season. There was change of plan at the end of the 2006/07 season and on the 4th June 2007 he was placed on transfer list. On 8th June he had signed for Mildenhall Town in the Ridgeons Premier League on a two year contract. On 28th January 2008 the Ridgeons League bulletin stated he was available for transfer. He was subsequently transferred to Felixstowe and Walton United on 7th February 2008. He was with them again at the start of the 2008/09 campaign and played throughout it. On 9th June 2009, Norwich United announced they had signed him for the 2009/10 season, he played throughout it and was still with them in May 2011. He won their Player of the Year award for 2010/11 and was still with the Blofield club in October 2011. In February 2012 after being out of football due to injury he had an operation on his back to cure the problem. At the start of the 2012/13 season he had joined Ely City.

Apps 360 Subs 12 Goals 160
Updated 28/07/12

Matty Clements
The pacy front runner (b 17/9/77) was signed by manager Mark Morsley on 12th November 2007 from Mildenhall Town on a contract until the end of the 2007/08 season. He was previously with Needham Market in 2006/07 and prior to that Diss Town, Cambridge United (2001) then on loan to Stalybridge Celtic (Oct 2001) and King’s Lynn (Feb 2002) before joining, Cambridge City May 2002 and Chatteris Town. On 11th May 2008 he announced via the AFC website that he was retiring. On 8th June 2012 he was appointed manager of of Kershaw League side Hardwick where he had been coaching for a couple of years.

Apps 24 Subs 1 Goals 4
Updated 08/09/12

Richard Codling
A central defender, he had played for Sudbury Wanderers before the club was formed in 1999, during first season left to go to Clacton Town but soon returned. ‘Codders’ had his career cut short with a serious knee injury. In October 2003 he had his knee operated on and was expected not to be able to work for a year. In July 2005 he was working as a self employed joiner. In September 2008 he was still working for his family building firm. In February 2009 he was helping coach Cornard United’s under 16 side.

Apps 35 Sub 1 Goals 0

Updated 03/08/12

Neil Cogger
An experienced player who was 30 years old when he joined AFC on 12th August 2008 after some good pre-season performances. ‘Cogs’ spent many of his previous playing years with Haverhill Rovers, playing as a wide right sided man but suffered a bad knee injury in 2007. His previous clubs include both Tiptree United and Cambridge City. On 13th October 2008 he returned to Haverhill to play but with AFC retaining his Southern League registration. In the middle of March 2009 he received a knee injury ruling him out for the rest of the season. He returned to action with Rovers in November 2010, but was injured again in February 2011. In May 2011 there were doubts over whether he would every play again due to his injury, however it was thought that he would be back by October 2011. On 29th September 2012 he was playing for the New Croft side once again.

Apps 5 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 30/09/11

Lauris Coggin

A defender (b 27/09/88) started off with Southend United in 2004 in their under 18′s and was playing for their youth team in December 2006 and then made a number of appearances for the reserves. July 2008 saw him with Team Bath and in October 2008 he played for Frome Town on loan. July 2010 he played pre-season for Chelmsford City. He signed for Witham Town in August 2010 and also played for Priory Sports a Sunday side, he was still with Witham Town  in April and September 2011. He went onto play for Great Wakering Rovers and in January 2012 signed for Heybridge Swifts. He left there to join Brentwood Town in March 2012. Signed for AFC in June 2012, he did not play his first game until 11th September 2012 due to an injury. He was released by the club late in October 2012 due to injury, but was then signed by Heybridge Swifts.

Apps 1 Subs 2 Goals 0

Updated 01/11/12

Liam Coleman
A midfielder (b 11/01/86), he started his career with Colchester United and turned professional in August 2004, but was released at the end of the season having not made a first team performance. He joined Torquay United in July 2005 and made his debut for them in August 2005 and played until December 2005 (14 apps). In March 2006 he joined Forest Green Rovers on loan until the end of the season that saw neither club retain his services. In August 2006 he signed for Gravesend and Northfleet (Ebbsfleet) and was with them until the end of the 2007/08 season during which time he played on loan at Heybridge Swifts. In September 2008 he joined Wivenhoe Town but left after only seven days. December 2008 and he had joined Northwich Victoria. On 1st August 2009 he played as a trialist for AFC and on 13th August he signed for the club. He made only two appearances before being released on 26th August 2009. On 1st September he signed once again for Heybridge Swifts, but in the middle of November 2009 he left to join Stanway Rovers. He was with the Hawthorns club at the start of the 2010/11 season, however on 24th July 2010 he played a pre-season game for Aveley. In August 2010 he was playing for the Thurrock based club, however on 17th September he signed for FC Clacton. He required a knee operation late in November 2010, which he had and was playing for the Essex club in April 2011. On 27th July 2011 Margate announced they had signed him on a two year contract, however on 12th December they stated he had been released. On 20th December 2011 he was playing for Maldon and Tiptree, however on 19th February 2012 he had left the club. In May 2012 he was working in USA as a soccer coach in New Jersey.

Apps 2 Subs 2 Goals 0
Updated 18/06/12

Stephen Coles
Chunky midfield player signed in April 2002 from East Bergholt mainly as cover for the many midweek games. He was an American Footballer for Ipswich Cardinals. He played only two games in season 2002/03 while he was still at East Bergholt.

Apps 3 Sub 1 Goals 0

Updated 05/08/12

Dave Collins
A 27 year old midfield player (b 8/05/83) signed on 10th September 2010 and made his debut the next day as a substitute at Heybridge Swifts. He started his career at Southend United then went to Cork City, before joining Redbridge and then Newport County. He went onto Concord Rangers from where AFC signed him, however on 9th November he was released by the club. Brentwood Town quickly snapped him up and on 13th November 2010 he was playing for them. On 2nd June 2011 Maldon and Tiptree announced they had signed him for the 2011/12 season, and he played against AFC on 6th December 2011. He remained with them until the end of the season but on 4th July 2012 they stated he had left the club. On 8th August 2012 he was named as a signing for 2012/13 at Thurrock FC, however on 14th September 2012 he joined Great Wakering Rovers. At the end of the 2012/13 he won the Supporters Player Of The Year.

Apps 11 Subs 1 Goals 0
Updated 18/04/13

Danny Cook
A young central defender who signed for AFC in November 2007, having earlier in the season been on the books of Potters Bar Town Reserves. He was on the bench on four occasions during the 2007/08 season and remained at the club in season 2008. He eventually made a first team appearance as a substitute at Romulus on 28th November 2008. On 13th January 2009 he left to join Stanway Rovers and was still there at the start of the 2009/10 season. At the beginning of the 2010/11 season he had returned to refereeing, something he had previously been involved in. In July he was still involved in refereeing and was on the line as an assistant in a pre-season AFC game.

Apps 2 Subs 8 Goals 0
Updated 05/08/12

Ricky Cornish
A left sided defender, (b 01/12/70 he started his football with Cambridge United in their youth set up and then joined Cornard United in season 1989/90. He left there and went to Bristol City before going to Norway and Melhus returning in October 1990 and played for Aldershot FC  in November 1990. He then joined St Albans City but at the end of season 1991/92 was with Chelmsford City from where he joined Halstead Town. He was there from 1993/94 until the end of 1995/96. Sudbury Wanderers were his next club for a short while before going to Bury Town midway through the 1998/99 season. He started the 2000/01 season with AFC and he stayed until the following year when he left to join Diss Town staying nearly four years. In the middle of June 2005 he signed for Mildenhall Town and on 16th August was appointed assistant manager. He played for the Recway club through 2005/06 but at the end of the season left. He returned to his former club Diss Town as a player at the start of the 2006/07 season. On the 1st November 2006 he was appointed assistant manager at the club. Towards the end of January 2007 he was reported to have left Diss and signed as a player for Yaxley in the UCL. On 6th March 2007 he was due to manage Diss for their game on 10th March. At the start of the 2007/08 season he was back at Diss, but on 22nd November 2007 he was reported as having been released by the club. In the middle of December 2007 he signed for Newmarket Town, but on 23rd January 2008 he had left for Essex Senior League side Burnham Ramblers. At the start of the 2008/09 he had re-joined Newmarket Town and won promotion with them. On 1st July 2009 he had re-signed for the Jockeys for season 2009/10. At the start of October 2009 he had transferred to Team Bury. At the start of the 2010/11 season he had joined Thetford Town but soon left and joined Lakenheath. He was still with them when they played in the Suffolk Senior Cup Final in April 2011. In season 2011/12 he was still them in March 2012 and played until the end of the season. On 5th July 2012 Newmarket Town announced that he had signed for them again for the 2012/13 season.

Apps 69 Subs 4 Goals 9
Updated 05/07/12

Ian Cousins

He started his football career at Tottenham Hotspur in their youth system. Burnham Ramblers were his club before in the summer of 2000 he signed for Chelmsford City.  He remained with them before at the start of the 2003/04 season joining Welling United. In February 2005 he was playing for Chelmsford City. 2005/06 saw him with Heybridge Swifts but in December 2007 he was with Braintree Town. In September 2008 he was back with Chelmsford City, but in May 2009 he joined Billericay Town and was still there in April 2011. In June 2011 he moved to Maldon and Tiptree United. He signed for AFC on 10^th August 2012 but was released on 25^rd September 2012.

Apps 6 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 25/09/12

Chris Cowan
A youngster who played for the Reserves in 2005/06 and was named as a substitute for the first team in the middle of October 2006 but he did not get on the pitch. He made his debut as a substitute at Aveley on 11th November 2007. His first senior start was away at Staines Town in the Ryman League Cup on 5th December 2006. He signed again for the club in 2007/08, but on 15th November 2007 he signed for Wivenhoe Town. On 6th February 2008 he joined Hadleigh United on loan until 4th April, however on 26th March he was recalled to Wivenhoe. On 2nd June 2008 he was released from his contract with the Essex club. In August 2008 he was playing for Hadleigh United again and was still there in early March 2009. He stayed with the Millfield club at the start of the 2009/10 season. He was still there playing for their reserve side in August 2010, however on 11th September he was announced as a new signing for Stoke-by- Nayland. On 1st October 2011 Hadleigh stated he had joined Long Melford, he received a nasty injury early on and did not play again until April 2011. In October 2011 he was again playing for Stoke-by-Nayland and was still there in May 2012. He returned to them again and was still there in October 2012.

Apps 3 Subs 11 Goals 0
Updated 18/10/12

Dave Cowley

A wide player (b 2/11/87), he started his career in July 2004 in the West Ham United youth set up before joining Southend United in June 2006.  He then had a spell in the USA before  joining the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain in 2008 where he eventually signed for Spanish club Industrial in the Spanish Fourth Division in July 2009. In January 2010 Recreativo de Huelva signed him before in August 2010 he signed for Harlow Town and won The Player of the Year award for season 2010/11. He signed for Grays Athletic in August 2011 having turned down a chance to go to Blue Square Bet Premier side Braintree Town and also in July 2011 he was offered a contract with Conference South outfit Hampton & Richmond Borough. He returned to Harlow in February 2012 and stayed until the end of the 2011/12 season. He signed for AFC on 10th July 2012 and played throughout the 2012/13 season and won the Supporters Player Of The Year Award.

Apps  Subs  Goals

Updated 20/04/13

Stuart Crawford
A left footed defender who was a YTS player at Lincoln City, joined at the start of season 2002/03, played only a few games before leaving to go to Hadleigh United. At the start of season 2003/04 he joined Long Melford and played in the Suffolk Senior Cup Final of that season. In September 2004 he left Long Melford joining Needham Market. At the start of the 2005/06 season he was signed by Cornard United, but before he played a league game was rumoured to be transferring to Felixstowe and Walton United, but then signed for Walsham-le-Willows. He stayed with Walsham through the 2005/06 season but at the start of the 2006/07 campaign he was with Whitton United as their captain. In February 2007 he was rumoured to have stopped playing football, however at the start of the 2007/08 season he was back at Whitton. In November 2007 he had a knee operation that had prevented him playing for the rest of the season. On 4th July 2008 he had signed for Hadleigh United again and played throughout the 2008/09 season. He remained with the Millfield club at the start of the 2009/10 season, but received a cruciate knee injury and in November 2009 announced he had retired from football due to it. On May 14th 2010 he was named as the manager of Hadleigh United, a position he was still in on 20th August 2011. He remained in post in June 2012 preparing for the 2012/13 season.

Apps 8 Subs 7 Goals 1
Updated 06/06/12

Daniel Cunningham
An eighteen year old midfielder signed from Bury Town on 13th November 2006 on a contract until the end of the 2007/08 season, this was after the club were found to have made an illegal approach for him. He played for West Suffolk College and all the Bury teams before joining AFC and had trials in 2006 with both Morecambe and Mansfield Town. He continued at AFC in the 2007/08 season, however on 21st November 2007 he was loaned to Leiston in the Ridgeons Premier League. On 17th December 2007 he was sold to Leiston for an undisclosed fee. He remained with the Victory Road club at the start of the 2008/09 season. On 30th October 2008 he was remanded in custody by Ipswich Magistrates after pleading guilty to a drugs possession charge. At Ipswich Crown Court on 28th November 2008 he was given a two year sentence at a young offender’s institute. On 4th June Leiston announced that they would be re-signing him for the 2009/10 season when released from his sentence. He played again for the Victory Road club in July 2009, and on 1st September signed a two year contract with the club. He was still with the Victory Road club at the start of the 2010/11/ season, and playing for them still in April 2011. On 18th May 2011 Bury Town announced that he had returned to play for them for the 2011/12 season. He played throughout the season, but on 31st May 2012 Lowestoft Town announced he had signed a two year deal with them.

Apps 38 Subs 4 Goals 9
Updated 31/05/12

Liam Cutts
A 20 year old goalkeeper signed from Haverhill Rovers in February 2009, he had previously started his career with Hundon and then Long Melford and Cambridge City before joining AFC. He made his debut away to Aylesbury United on 1st April 2009, keeping a clean sheet. He signed once again for the club in season 2009/10, however at the start of October 2009 he re-signed for Hundon. At the start of the 2010/11/season he had re-joined Haverhill Rovers and was with them again at the start of 2011/12. On 8th October 2011 he was playing for Lakenheath FC. Haverhill Sports Association on 19th June 2012 stated he had signed for them for the 2012/13 season. He also played for Haverhill’s first team on 4th August 2012.

Apps 2 Subs 2 Goals 0
Updated 21/06/12

Tom Cutts

A 6′ 4″ central defender (b 15/01/92) signed on 30th November 2012 from Wivenhoe Town where he was first team captain. He had been with ‘The Dragons’ since the age of seventeen and played in their under 18′s side prior to playing in the first team. He became first team captain and played 112 times for them scoring six goals before joining AFC and making his debut on 1st December 2012.

Apps  Subs  Goals

Updated 01/12/12

Adam Dalby

A 21 year-old defender (10/02/90) he started his football career in the Histon youth team where at the end of the 2006/07 season he won ‘The Chairman’s Player of the Year award’. He was then promoted to their reserve team squad. He left Histon and went further his career by joining Ely City, ‘The Robins’, and in the 2010/11 season won ‘The Most Improved Player Award’. He signed for AFC on 17th October 2011, and played throughout the rest of the 2011/12 season and in July 2012 he returned for the 2012/13 season. At the end of the season he was awarded the Managers Player of the Year trophy.

Apps  Subs  Goals

Updated 17/05/13

David Daniels

This strong running 21 year old midfielder signed for AFC on loan from Cambridge United on 10th March 2006 for the rest of the season, having played for Hitchin Town earlier in the season on loan. He however played his last game for AFC against Cambridge City Reserves on 29th March, and the next day was released from his contract at Cambridge United and signed for Cambridge City. This turned out to be incorrect as he was on loan at AFC and could not do so. He however did eventually sign for Cambridge City, but at the start of the 2006/07 season he signed for Mildenhall Town. At the end of August 2006 he was loaned to Bedford Town. On 13th July 2007 he signed for Ridgeons Division One side Ely City. At the start of the 2008/09 season he was playing for Biggleswade Town. On 1st July 2009 he had signed again for Ely City.

Apps 3 Subs 0 Goals 1

Rhys Darg
A defender (b 9/10/88) he started his career with Arsenal in 2000 as a schoolboy and left in 2004  when he won two under 16 caps for Wales. He was then with Ipswich Town but did not make the grade. He went to West Bromwich Albion in 2005 but a broken ankle meant he was released in 2007 and then spent some time with Ange IF in Sweden. The Glenn Hoddle football academy in Spain was his next stop. He trialled with Gillingham in November 2007 and in December 2007 was with Tiptree United until the end of the 2007/08 season. In December 2008 he was playing for Witham Town, but in February 2009 he was back at Tiptree. On 8th August 2009, he played for AFC and signed on 13th August. He played almost the entire season before he was no longer required on 17th April 2010 and left. In May 2010 he was again playing in Sweden, this time for Ytterhogdals IK scoring nineteen goals in seventeen games. On 12th October 2010 he was training again at AFC, and on 14th he was re-signed by the club and played and scored on 16th. He remained with the club until 30th January 2011 when he returned to his Swedish club scoring 29 goals. In October 2011 he returned to England and when his international clearance came through he signed for AFC again on 4th November 2011. He played until 10th March 2012 although it was littered with injuries, before returning to Sweden yet again to continue his footballing career. On 11th June 2012 he was back in England and agreed to sign for AFC for the 2012/12 season, however on 30th June he informed the club that he would be signing for Leiston which he did. On 14th September 2012 he joined  Witham Town on a three month loan from there he went on trial at Billericay Town. On 7th November he had signed again for AFC, he remained until the last week of March 2013 when he left and joined Heybridge Swifts.

Apps  Subs  Goals
Updated 30/03/2013

Steve Day
A forward player, who was with Wanderers before amalgamation, became disillusioned and went to Cornard United for a short time before returning. At start of season 2002/03 decided that he would concentrate on playing Border League football and was captain of the reserves although playing the occasional first team game when called upon. He won the Reserve Team Manager’s Player of the Year award in 2002/03. Recalled to the first team squad for season 2003/04 and played a large number of times. He came on as a substitute in the last game of the season the Suffolk Premier Cup Final at Portman Road, Ipswich and announced his retirement after the match. He was again the Reserve Team Manager’s Player of the year for 2003/04.His retirement turned out to be short lived as he came back at the start of season 2004/05 to star for the reserve team once again. In September 2004 was back in the first team after a spate of injuries. In January 2005 was awarded a testimonial by the club. He was left out of the F.A. Vase final squad in May 2005. On 19th July 2005 he was awarded a testimonial game against West Ham and a crowd of 516 saw AFC lose 5-1. He continued playing for the Reserves in 2005/06 and led the side to the final of the Suffolk Junior Cup at Portman Road Ipswich in April 2006. He also led the side to the play off final between the winners of the Ridgeons Reserve League South and North where they lost to Felixstowe and Walton United Reserves. At the start of the 2006/07 season despite threatening not to play he signed on and played, and was the leading scorer in the Reserves. At the end of the season he won the Managers Player of the Year award and also the Reserves Top Goal Scorer award. The popular player called time of his playing career at the start of the 2007/08 season, but continued in football coaching youngsters at Long Melford. However on 11th November 2007 Long Melford announced that he had signed to play for them, which he did, however he never played after December 2007 and went into retirement again. In September 2008 he was still coaching and managing youngsters at Long Melford. At the end of January 2009 he was playing for Sudbury Athletic. In July 2010 he stated he had retired, and this was reiterated in October 2012.

Apps 178 Subs 35 Goals 53

Updated 07/10/12

D’Arcy De’ath

A defender/midfielder (b 05/01/88) he signed for AFC just before Christmas 2012 and made his debut on Boxing Day. He had previously played for Ransomes, Woodbridge Town, Felixstowe and Walton United, Ipswich Wanderers, Whitton United, Needham Market and then Woodbridge again on loan. On 27th March he had left and joined Hadleigh United.

Apps 8 Subs 1 Goals 0

Updated 29/03/13

Jack Defty
A 6′ 2″ well build striker, (b 7/09/81) he joined the club on a month’s loan from Corby Town on 4th September 2009. Started his career with Wootons, then joined King’s Lynn and made his way through their youth and reserve teams to the first team making his debut in the 2002 Southern League Cup Final. He made 308 appearances and scored 90 goals before at the start of the 2009/10 season joining Corby Town. He scored on his debut on 5th September against Burnham and stayed until 30th October scoring thirteen goals in only eleven appearances before returning to Corby. In the middle of May 2010 the newly reformed Kings Lynn Town announced that he had signed for the club for 2010/11. He was scoring goals for them in November 2010 and re-signed for the 2011/12 season. He played throughout the 2011/12 season gaining the club promotion. On 29th May 2012 the club announced he would not be retained and on 3oth May 2012 had agreed to sign a two year contract with Lowestoft Town. In April 2013 he suffered a broken leg.

Apps 11 Subs 0 Goals 13
Updated 18/05/13

Tom Devaux
A 21 year old (b 12/02/89) he signed on a months loan from Halstead Town on 9th November 2010. He previously played for Colchester United’s youth and reserve sides before being released in May 2008, just prior to that he had a loan spell at Heybridge Swifts. The loan was extended  for another month in December 2010 and yet again on 2nd January 2011. On 3rd February 2011 a deal was agreed for him to sign on a permanent deal for the club. He later signed an extension until the end of the 2011/12 season and played throughout it. He started the 2011/12 season with the club but sustained a groin injury that required an operation that was done in October 2011. He recovered slowly from it and was named as a substitute on 21st January 2012, however on 23rd January he went on a fifty-six day loan to Stanway Rovers. He then signed for them permanently but  on 9th July 2012 he joined Witham Town.

Apps 33 Subs 7 Goals 5
Updated 09/07/12

Brian Devereux
He was a fast raiding front runner (b 2/08/69)  he started out with Sudbury Athletic and then Cornard United  but then returned to Athletic. He then joined up gain with Cornard under the managership of Keith Martin in season 1992/93. He went with Martin Halstead Town in season 1993/94 and won the ECL title with them in 1995/96. ‘Devs’ followed Keith again this time to Braintree Town winning promotion in 1996/97. At the start of the 1997/98 season he was with Sudbury Wanderers and Martin again,  before joining AFC in August 1999. . In the first two seasons at the club he scored 39 goals in each one. At the start of season 2001/02 he became disillusioned with the game and did not return to the club until February 2002. ‘Devs’ then scored only one more goal before the finish of the season and at the end of it was transferred to Long Melford for £1500. Just after the start of season 2003/04 he announced he had retired from football. At the beginning of July 2004 the Suffolk Free Press reported he would be playing again with Long Melford. On 23rd October 2004 ‘Devs’ surfaced at Sudbury Athletic coming on as a substitute against Stanway Rovers Reserves, the following week played against Stowmarket Town Reserves. He then stopped playing once again. He did towards the end of the 2005/06 season turn out on a couple of occasions for Bures United in the Border League. At the start of the 2006/07 season was playing Sudbury Sunday League football for Northcroft. On 24th March 2007 he turned out for Sudbury Athletic, he did so again in December 2007. In September 2008 he had retired from all football. In March 2012 he was doing no sport at all and continued as a painter and decorator as his chosen profession.

Apps 115 Subs 8 Goals 79

Updated 12/03/12

Robbie Devereux
A very skilful right-sided midfield player, (b 31/01/71) he started his footballing career at Ipswich Town and then joined Colchester United making 2 appearances in the 1989/90 season. He then played for a number of clubs, Southport (3 apps 4 subs), Dagenham & Redbridge and including Sudbury Town where he joined in 1990. He then went to Cornard United and the back to Colchester United in 1992/93 making 6 appearances. Robbie joined Halstead Town in 1993/94 before at the end joining Shelbourne and playing in the UEFA Cup and winning the Irish Cup in 1995/96. Dundalk was his next stop where he won the league title in 1997/98 and 1998/99. At the start of the 1999/2000 season he started with St Patricks and played in the Champions League for them. He returned to England in March 2000 and played for Southport (3 apps 4 subs), and then signed for AFC in September 2000. In February 2001 he was involved in a nasty incident in match at Mildenhall Town that resulted in him receiving serious facial injuries. They kept him out until the start of the start of season 2001/02 but he also had a knee problem that seemed to hold him back. He played onto the end of the season and then announced his retirement. In October 2008 he was still in the Sudbury area running his own roofing company.

Apps 68 Subs 9 Goals 1

Updated 06/06/12

Trevor Dinig
A goalkeeper signed in the middle of September 2006 as cover for Nathan Munson. He was needed for a Suffolk Premier Cup tie at Needham Market on 17th October 2006, but he failed to appear stating his car had broken down. He played previously for Dagenham and Redbridge, Hullbridge Sports and Witham Town. He was selected again for a reserve team match at Bury but again failed to appear. His registration with the club was cancelled in the middle of January 2007 and thus he became a player not to appear for AFC and indeed never even seen! In the middle of January 2007 he signed for Long Melford played one game and then went missing again with a broken hand.

Apps 0 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 06/06/12

Matt Dixon
A busy little forward, he was previously with the Ipswich Town youth set up. Always likely to upset opposition defences and get a goal and did have a habit of falling easily in and around the penaltyarea. ‘Dicko’ was flown back especially from America to play in a Senior Cup semi-final. Was the recipient on the Young Player of the Year award in season 2000/01. Left the club in season 2000/01 to live and play in America. On 30th August 2007 he was back in the country and attended training at King’s Marsh, and signed again for the club on 6th September, two days later he was on the bench against Ilford. He played for a half against Cornard United in a Harwich Charity Cup game on 11th September but was released a few days later and joined Walsham-le-Willows. He was still with the Summer Road club at the start of the 2008/09 season. On 5th November 2008 he transferred to Needham Market and was still there at the start of the 2009/10 season. Just after the start of the season he joined Thetford Town and was still with them in April 2010. and remained with the Mundford Road club in May 2011. He played throughout the 2011/12 season and was their top goalscorer as the club gained promotion and reached the final of the Norfolk Senior Cup. On 27th July 2012 he was reported to have joined Norwich United, which he did , however on 9th November 2012 he transferred to Diss Town.

Apps 46 Subs 10 Goals 18

Updated 18/11/12

Kane Dobrowolski
A young midfield player signed on loan from Braintree Town on 12th February 2010 made his AFC debut a day later. He returned to Braintree at the end of the 2009/10 season. In March 2011 he was playing on Sundays for Braintree Sporting. On 19th November 2011 he was playing again for Braintree Town’s reserve side having been there since the start of the 2011/12 season. In the middle of July 2012 he joined a pre-season training season at King’s Marsh.

Apps 11 Subs 2 Goals 0

Updated 28/07/12

Jon Docker

Apps 9 Subs 3 Goals 1

Updated 13/01/13

Camillo Douglas
A nineteen year forward (b 21/12/89) when he joined the club in October 2009, having played previously for Southend United, Cambridge United, Ipswich Wanderers and Whitton United. He made his first team debut in November 2009 as a substitute in the Suffolk Premier Cup at Woodbridge Town, a few other appearances followed before the end of the 2009/10 season. He signed again at the start of the 2010/11 season playing mainly for the reserves. At the start of the 2011/12 campaign he had signed for Hadleigh United. At the beginning of December 2011 he had left and joined Ipswich Wanderers.

Apps 7 Subs 10 Goals 0

Updated 09/12/11

Sheridan Driver
A midfielder, (b 23/9/84) he signed for a months loan at the start of the 2007/08 season from Blue Square South side Bishops Stortford. He started his football career with Colchester United before joining up with Halstead Town. In season 2006/07 he played for Maldon Town. He made his league debut for AFC on 18th August 2007 against Aveley. On 30th August he signed a permanent contract for one year to play for AFC. At the end of the season he won the First Team Players Player of the Year Award. In June 2008 he signed on for season 2008/09. He played throughout the season, but at the end of it went to USA to coach football in summer camps, but not before winning once again the First Team Players Player of the Year award. On 5th December 2009 he had returned to England on holiday and played for Felixstowe and Walton United and did so again early in April 2010. In the last game of the season on 1st May 2010 he ruptured his achilles playing for the Seasiders. In July 2010 he remained in England still recovering from the injury. On 16th December 2010 Needham Market announced he had signed  a contract with until the end of the 2010/11 season with an option of another year. He made his debut for the Marketmen on 8th February 2011 and scored, at the end of the season he returned to America to coach. By September 17th 2011 he had returned to this country once again but was still under contract with Needham. On 24th September Leiston announced that they had signed him from the Bloomfields club, where he remained until the end of the 2011/12 season winning promotion with them.

Apps 88 Subs 2 Goals 0

Updated 24/09/11

Muzzie Elmer
He arrived at the start of the 2004/05 season from Ipswich Wanderers, a forward who became part of the squad but did not play a first team game until an Eastern Floodlight game at Needham Market in November 2004. He did play one league game before the end of that season. At the start of 2005/06 was training at Heybridge Swifts, but signed for Wivenhoe Town and played for their reserves against AFC on 17th September 2005. In October 2005 he transferred to Harwich and Parkeston and played for their first team. Before the end of the 2005/06 season he was back at Ipswich Wanderers. In season 2006/07 he was playing for Woodbridge Town, however towards the end of February 2007 he was transferred to Stanway Rovers. On 9th February 2008 he was playing for Whitton United.

Apps 5 Subs 6 Goals 1

Updated 06/06/12

Daniel Emmanuel
A 17 year old wide right player (b 17/11/91), he started with West Ham United’s youth set up before signing for Braintree Town in the middle of October 2009. On 24th December 2009 he signed for AFC and made his debut as a substitute against Bury Town on Boxing Day 2009. He returned to Braintree at the end of the 2009/10 season, and was playing for their reserve side in September 2010. In the middle of October 2010 he was playing for Haverhill Rovers, but on 29th October he re-signed for AFC and scored the next day. On 23rd November he signed a contract with AFC to keep him at the club until the end of the 2010/11 season. He agreed another contract to the end of 2011/12 season on 22nd March 2011. He played throughout the 2011/12 season with AFC. On 5th July 2012 he informed the management that he would not be returning for 2012/13. On 9th July 2012 Witham Town announced he had signed for them.

Apps 105 Subs 5 Goals 12
Updated 09/07/12

Tom English
The son of former Coventry striker Tommy English and nephew of former Sudbury Town man Tony English, Tom (b 17/11/81)  played for the Arsenal youth team after signing for them in the summer of 1998. He was formerly with Norwich playing in their youth team in 1997/98. He was released by The Gunners sometime in 1999/2000 and signed for Harwich & Parkeston. Tom’s form won him trials with QPR and Ipswich, for whom he played in an FA Premier Reserve League match. At the end of January 2001, he left Harwich to play professionally in Singapore for Marine Castle Utd where he was their leading scorer. Returning to play for Harwich during the Singapore close-season, Tom endured a terrible injury whilst on holiday in Tenerife falling from an apartment balcony and was on life support. When recovered he joined Stanway Rovers in the summer of 2003 but returned to Harwich scoring 15 goals in 34 appearances for them in 2004/5. He signed for AFC in June 2005 and played in season 2005/06 scoring 21 goals up to 25th March 2006 when he was released from his contract. A few days later he signed for Mildenhall Town and played there until the end of the season. He played again for them at the start of the 2006/07 season, but towards the end of August 2006 he was transferred to Haverhill Rovers in the Ridgeons First Division and scored a hat trick on his debut. In early October he was reported to have left the club. On 27th October 2006 he was announced as a new signing for Tiptree United and scored on his debut, he remained there until the last week of March 2007 when he transferred to Ridgeons Premier Division side Ipswich Wanderers. At the start of the 2007/08 campaign he had returned to Tiptree United and remained with them throughout the season and won promotion. He was still there at the start of the 2008/09 season and stayed there throughout it. The 2009/10 season saw him still with the Chapel Road club, but in the middle of September 2009 he signed for Halstead Town. He suffered an injury and only played a few games and on 5th February 2010 he signed for Heybridge Swifts, and was still with them in December 2010.

Apps 39 Subs 7 Goals 21
Updated 3/12/10

Nicky Eyre
A goalkeeper (b 7/09/85) signed on 15th October 2010 from Bishops Stortford. He started his career as an apprentice at Tottenham Hotspur where he represented England at both schoolboy and Under 17 levels. He left in May 2005 after playing reserve team football and one appearance in the first team squad and joined Grays Athletic in the Conference. He left them and at the start of the 2006/07 season signed for Rushden and Diamonds making his debut on 21st August 2006 and during his time there he was called up for the England C squad, he however left on 21st December. There was short trial at Histon before he joined Dagenham and Redbridge in February 2007 as they won the Conference. At the start of the 2007/08 season he was with St Albans City but rejoined Grays later in 2008. Bishops Stortford signed him at the beginning of season 2009/10 before going to Chelmsford City. In September 2010 he was back with Bishops Stortford before joining AFC in October 2010. He played until the end of March 2011 when he had a disagreement with the club over alleged owed wages and refused to play in a game at Waltham Abbey. He played again for Bishops Stortford on 16th April who had retained his Blue Square South registration and stayed until the end of the season. On 1st June 2011 he had signed for Chelmsford City for the 2011/12 season, however on 11th July they stated he had left for personal reasons. He rejoined Bishop’s Stortford a few days later, but left them sometime late in 2011. On 3rd March 2012 he was playing for Concord Rangers. Heybridge Swifts announced on 8th June 2012 that he had signed for them for the 2012/13 season.

Apps  27 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 09/06/12

Dennis Fenemore
The first black player for AFC, (b 19/06/84) the young midfielder was living in Thetford and at a time there was a player shortage made one substitute appearance on 14/04/01 at home against Gt Yarmouth. He was not seen for some time, although there was a mention of a player with the same name playing for Tring Town in 2003. In season 2004/05 he played four games for Leighton Town, having signed from Beaconsfield SYCOB. He re-emerged on 3rd February 2007 when he played against AFC for Flackwell Heath. He had previously been at West Suffolk College before joining Walsall. He left there and went to America to play with Richmond Kickers before returning to play in England, and indeed did play for Tring amongst a number of clubs. At the start of the 2007/08 season he signed for Wingate and Finchley but on 9th November signed for Northwood and on that day was substitute against AFC for them. He went again to America to play and signed again for Leighton Town in season 2008/09 but only played five games before late in January 2009 he transferred to Barton Rovers. At the end of March 2009 he left and signed for Leighton Town again and he remained with them at the start of the 2009/10 season. On 12th November 2009 he transferred to Burnham, but at the beginning of June 2010 he went to Hemel Hempstead Town. In September 2011 he transferred to Arlesey Town, but at the start of the 2012/13 season he was playing again for Beaconsfield SYCOB. At the beginning of March 2013 he returned to play for Leighton Town.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 03/03/13

Stuart Fergus

A midfielder (b 11/06/85) he started his footballing career as a youngster with Boston United in July 2001 leaving the following year. In July 2004 he played for Billericay Town and then in March 2005 he was with Halstead Town leaving in January 2008. In July 2009 he had joined Burnham Ramblers. In October 2010 he was playing for Bowers and Pitsea but at the start of the 2011/12 season signed for Southminster St Leonards FC. In October 2011 he was with Witham Town and then transferred to Heybridge Swifts. He signed for AFC in the early part of July 2012. In early September returned to Southminster to play a game and did not make his competitive debut for AFC until 29th September 2012. He left the club on 29th October 2012 and signed for Redbridge. In the latter part of January 2013 he had joined Stanway Rovers.

Apps 5 Subs 6 Goals 0

Updated 03/02/13

Andy Fisher

A midfielder (b 23/02/), he joined the club in December 2010 hailing from Lavenham having previously played for Long Melford. He played for the reserves for the rest of the 2010/11 season. In the reserves first pre-season game of 2011/12 at Needham Market on 30th July 2011 he suffered a fracture of his leg in three places. He was operated on the next day and had a metal pin inserted and did not returned to action until the early part of 2012. The start of the 2012/13 season saw him back playing for the club’s reserve side. On 15th December 2012 he was on the bench for the first team and made an 88th minute substitute appearance to become the 250th player to represent the club at first team level.

Apps  Subs Goals

Updated 15/12/2012

Michael Fitzgibbon
An eighteen year old signed for the club on 15th October 2009 on loan from Needham Market. He attended the Colne Football Academy while playing under eighteen football for Wivenhoe Town. He joined Harwich and Parkeston in season 2008/09 but at the start of the 2009/10 season was signed by Needham Market. He scored on his debut for AFC on 17th October 2009 against Billericay Town in an FA Trophy tie and remained at AFC until 9th December when his loan spell expired and returned to Needham Market. On 8th January 2010 it was announced he had joined Harwich and Parkeston on a months loan. Hadleigh United signed him permanently on 13th February 2010. On 5th July 2010/11 Stanway Rovers announced he had signed for them for the 2010/11 season and he was still with them in December 2010. He was still with The Hawthorns club on 24th July 2012 when he played against AFC in a pre-season game.

Apps 11 Subs 1 Goals 1
Updated 24/07/12

Andy Fletcher
The son of the then reserve team manager, a defender he played youth football for Sudbury and for a number of local sides. He made his one and only appearance in an Eastern Floodlight game in season 2004/05.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 19/09/11

Ozie Foster
A 25 year old striker who was playing for Mildenhall Town and was also signed for Arlesey Town when he signed for AFC on 17th March 2007. He was a proven goal scorer with all the clubs he has been with, that include Peterborough United as a youth team player and trainee, Cambridge City, Soham Town Rangers and St Neots. Made his debut on 24th March 2007 at AFC Hornchurch, but at the end of the season was released. In July 2007 he signed for Ryman rivals Enfield Town and was with them again at the start of the 2008/09 season, however on 8th August 2008 he signed a contract at Wivenhoe Town. At the end of November 2008 he left and signed for St Ives Town and in August 2010 he was still with the club. He started the 2011/12 season still with the club.

Apps 11 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 23/08/11

Jemel Fox
The nephew of Ruel (b 16/07/91) he joined from Needham Market on 4th February 2010, this young wide right player made his debut two days later as a substitute against Aylesbury United. He previously played for Coplestonians in the Suffolk and Ipswich League and also Whitton United. In the middle of May 2010 he signed on for the 2010/11 season. He was called upon to take over the left back spot and his superb performances won him the Supporters Player of the Year award in April 2011. He remained with the club at the start of the 2011/12 season but was then suspended for 56 days in August 2011 following a problem in a five-a-side tournament earlier in the years. He missed fourteen games but the club stuck by him and he returned to play in October 2011. In January 2012 he was subject to a number of breaches of his FA contract and on 24th February he was dismissed from the club. He signed the next day for Leiston and won promotion with them at the end of the 2011/12 season. On 15th June 2012 the announced that he had been released by them. He was announced as having re-joined Needham Market on 20th July 2012.

Apps 68 Subs 9 Goals 6

Updated 20/07/12

Dean Francis
He joined AFC at the start of the 2003/04 season from Maldon Town. Nicknamed ‘Deano’ (b 16/09/76) he was a fast raiding wide man, mainly on the left hand side, who previously played for Colchester United and Burnham Ramblers. He was a wood turner by trade. In November 2004 he applied to join the Essex Fire Service and was accepted as long as he was fit but with no starting date. Not wishing to jeopardise his chances by getting injured playing football decided he would not play anymore. At the end of June 2005, he was reported as having signed for Tiptree United. On 21st October he broke his leg and dislocated his ankle playing for Tiptree against Fulbourn Institute. He did join the Essex Fire Service and gave up football apart from representing them five times a season. He played for them on 17th November 2011 scoring twice.

Apps 53 Subs 3 Goals 11

Updated 25/11/11

Darren Frost
Fast moving front runner was released by Ipswich Town youths, joined AFC in 1999 when he played for the reserves, made his first team debut in an EAC game against Soham but only made two other appearances before leaving for Long Melford. At the start of 2004 he had a third operation on his knee but was told he would not be able to play again. However in September 2004 he played one game for Sudbury Athletic, before returning to Long Melford and playing for them. He played for Melford Reserves against AFC Reserves on 3rd September 2005. Later in the season he left and signed for Halstead Town, but at the start of the 2006/07 season he was back at Long Melford.

Apps 3 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 15/05/12

Aaron Gardiner
A tigerish midfield player who signed for the club at the start in August 1999, having started his career at Ipswich Town in the youth set up. He left there and played for a time at Wigan Athletic before returning to Suffolk. He then played for Sudbury Town, Cornard United, Halstead, Town, Braintree Town and Diss Town. He was awarded both the Supporters and the First Team Player’s Player of the year in season 2000/01. He was infamously sent off in the first leg of the F.A. Vase semi-final of 2001/02. Played for almost the next two seasons and was in the 2002/03 F.A. Vase final side. Aaron played most of the 2003/04 season and was deeply upset to be left out of the F.A. Vase Final squad against Winchester City, and then announced he would be retiring from football. However at the start of 2004/05 he signed for Clacton Town and started pre-season training. On the evening of Wednesday 21st July 2004 after a training run he collapsed and died at his home in Ipswich aged just 33 years. He was buried at Holy Trinity Church Long Melford on August 6th 2004, with the church being full.

Apps 215 Subs 22 Goals 12
Updated 4/12/10

Danny Gay

A goalkeeper (b 05/08/82) from King’s Lynn, he progressed though the youth and Academy sides of Norwich City and throughout 2000/01 he played in their Reserve side and was on the bench for some Football League games. However at the end of that season he was released and joined up with Southend United on 21st May 2001. A short term contract was signed on 7th July 2001 and he made his debut on 29th December 2001. In March 2003, Danny was placed on stand-by for Wales’ Under-21 clashes with Azerbaijan and Serbia-Montenegro. Despite this international call-up, he was released by the Shrimpers on May 8th 2003. He went on trial to Boston United in July 2003 but at the beginning of the 2003/04 season he was playing for Hornchurch. He left at the end of the season and joined Braintree towards the end of August 2004. Danny joined Cambridge United on trial in July 2005, and was due to play in pre-season friendlies until Braintree demanded a £5000 fee for him which United could not afford, he then signed for Bishops Stortford in early August 2005. A return to Braintree followed at the end of January 2006 and he helped them win the Ryman League title, securing promotion to the Conference South, he though remained in the Ryman Premier League as he transferred to Heybridge Swifts in early July 2006. At the beginning of July 2007, Danny joined Leeds United on trial and played on 7th July in a friendly against Shelbourne  but he was not taken on, he returned to Essex joining Chelmsford City for the 2007/8 season. After helping them win the Ryman League and promotion to the Conference South, he was squeezed out and was released at the end of the 2008/9 season. In July 2009 he had a trial game for Norwich United playing in a 4-1 win over Thetford Town. Danny was signed by King’s Lynn on 27th August 2009, however his stay was short due to club being wound up and at the beginning of January 2010 signed for Needham Market. In the 2009/10 season, Needham Market won both the Ridgeons League and the Ridgeons Challenge Cup. He played throughout the 2010/11 season but left at the end of it and signed for AFC in July 2011. He played throughout the 2011/12 season and was the club’s only ever-present playing all fifty-five games. On 20th June 2012 it was announced that he would return to the club for 2012/13, which he did until on 20th September he left and signed for his home town club King’s Lynn Town. At the end of the season he won a league winners medal and thus promotion to Step 3.

Apps 63 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 06/05/13

Donald George
‘Donny’ a tall central defender (b 8/7/85) signed from Leiston on 10th October 2006, when an injury crisis occurred. He started with Ipswich Wanderers and then Woodbridge Town before joining the Victory Road side. He made his debut against Needham Market on 17th October 2006 in a Suffolk Premier Cup defeat and scored his first and only goal, the winner, in the FA Trophy replay win at Kingstonian. On 30th December 2006 he was transferred back to Leiston and was with them in 2007/08. In July 2008 it was announced he had left the club. In July 2009 he left for USA to coach ‘soccer’ in summer schools. In February 2011 he was playing for Northeastern Oklahoma A & M University and about to graduate with an associate’s degree in physical education. He then moved to Baker University in Kansas City trying to obtain a Bachelors degree of science in international studies and playing for their ‘soccer’ team. He continued to play for them in October 2012.

Apps 12 Subs 2 Goals 1
Updated 07/10/12

Brett Girling
The ex Sudbury Town defender joined at the start of the 2003/04 season from Braintree Town. His football started with Woodbridge Bluebirds before concentrating on BMX riding. He returned to football and played for Woodbridge Town and played in the Suffolk Schools side and at County Youth level. Ipswich Town and Bristol City were both places he had trials with and was offered a contract with the latter but he turned it down. He joined Sudbury Town from Woodbridge spending four seasons with them before joining Chelmsford City where he stayed four years before joining up with Braintree then a Ryman League side from where he joined AFC. At the end of his first season with the club he won both the Supporters Player of the Year and the Players Player of the Year awards. On October 2nd 2004 he scored his first goal for nine years against Gt Yarmouth Town. In May 2005 he captained the side at White Hart Lane in the F.A. Vase final, and at the start of the 2005/06 season he was appointed club captain. He played throughout the season and was retained for season 2006/07 but relieved of the captaincy by the new manager. On 4th March 2007 he signed a contract extension until the end of the 2007/08 season. At the end of the 2006/07 season he scooped two awards, The Manager’s Player of the Year and The Player’s Player of the Year at the annual award evening. He continued with AFC in season 2007/08, but decided to leave at the end of it. In early July 2008 he signed for Leiston and played with them throughout the 2008/09 season, and won the Player of the Year award. On 4th June 2009 the club announced he had signed for another season and he played at Victory Road throughout it. On 9th July 2010 Hadleigh United stated he had signed for them for the 2010/11 season and he was still there in December 2010. On 1st April 2011 it was announced that he was to retire at the end of the season, which he did. In September 2011 he was managing the Hadleigh United Under 10′s team.

Apps 248 Subs 16 Goals 2
Updated 25/09/11

Darren Gould
A well built goalkeeper (b 25/08/74), he started his career with Clacton Town then joined Harwich and Parkeston, before returning to Clacton and then Halstead Town for a short while. He then was snapped up by Maldon Town staying for four seasons but at the start of 2008/09 season played for Halstead again before joining Tiptree United from where he signed for AFC on 27th November 2008. In the middle of April 2009 he signed a contract to stay with the club for season 2009/10, however he was released on 21st August 2009 and joined FC Clacton. He stayed with them throughout the season but was not with them at the start of the 2010/11 season, however he did play occasionally for West Clacton.

Apps 28 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 6/02/11

Steve Greaves
An ex-professional footballer having been with Ipswich Town, Fulham       (1 app 87/88), Preston North End (2 apps 90/91), and Scunthorpe United, he came to the club on amalgamation from Sudbury Town. A midfielder with coaching qualifications he was happy to play mainly second team football whilst earning a living as a coach with the Ipswich Town Academy. He won the Reserve Team Manager’s Player of the Year in 1999/00 and 2000/01. Never started a first team game but came on twice in season 1999/2000. At the start of season 2004/05 he was promoted at Ipswich Town to assist with their youth team and never re-signed for the club. In season 2006/07 he became assistant Academy manager at Ipswich. On 30th June 2008 it was announced that he had left Ipswich Town, however on 4th July he was unveiled as the head coach at Stevenage Borough. In the middle of November 2008 he had left the club. In February 2012 he was the coach of Southampton FC’s under 16′s side and he was still there in April 2013 when took charge of their under 21 side.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 30/04/13

Danny Green

A midfielder player (b 04/08/90) he signed for AFC on 16^th October 2012 after being released the previous day by League Two club Dagenham and Redbridge (22 apps 1 goal). He started his career with Harlow Town in 2006 and in January 2008 he joined Cheshunt on dual registration. From there he joined Bishop’s Stortford in 2009 (4 apps) then St Albans City (4 apps 1 goal) back to Bishop’s Stortford (2 apps) and in October 2009 signed for Billericay Town (28 apps 4 goals). In May 2010 he signed a three-year contract with Football League side Dagenham and Redbridge. He spent the first three months of the 2010/11 season on loan with Braintree Town, there was then a loan period at Boreham Wood. His first appearance for Dagenham was on August 9^th 2010. He had a loan spell with Chelmsford City in November 2010. On 14^th March 2012 he went on loan to Dover Athletic (3 apps). He played only two games for AFC before leaving and on 3oth October 2012 signed for Bishop’s Stortford. On 7th December he left and joined Thurrock FC.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 08/12/12

Dean Greygoose

A vastly experienced goalkeeper (b 18/12/64), who was signed in February 2003, after Ben Nower told the club he would not be able to play due to promotion at work. He made his debut in F.A. Vase game at Mossley. Dean was at Kings Lynn (9/9/02), but had previously played for Leyton Orient (1 App 85/86), Cambridge United (26 apps 83/85) then on loan at Lincoln City (6 apps 21/09/85 to 2/11/85), Crystal Palace and Crewe (205 apps 87/93) in the Football League before playing non league with Altringham (01/08/99 to 01/08/00), Witton Albion, Northwich Victoria (01/08/96 to 22/06/99), Chester City (1/8/00 to 31/05/01), Stevenage Borough (23 apps 01/06/01 to 01/07/02) and Canvey Island 01/07/02 to 9/9/02). Played throughout the 2004/05 season and played his last game for the club in the F.A. Vase final against Didcot Town before being released by the club. In the middle of July 2005 he signed for Soham Town Rangers and he played throughout the 2005/06 season for the club. He was still at Soham in September 2006 as player/coach and running his own goalkeeping courses. On 22nd January 2007 it was announced that he had left Soham and had signed for Bury Town. He was still with the Ram Meadow club at the start of the 2007/08 season, and played throughout it. He was still with the Ram Meadow club at the start of the 2008/09 season. At the start of the 2009/10 season he was announced as the joint manager of Team Bury. At the start of the 2010/11 season he was appointed as goalkeeping coach at Histon, and for a few weeks became the assistant manager, on 24th August a new regime took over and he left the club. Toward the end of October 2010 he was helping out with both Ely City and Watton United. During the 2011/12 season he was the assistant manager at Ely City helping them to reach the runners-up spot. On 20th June 2012 he was announced as the assistant manager and goalkeeping coach at Kettering Town. During the last week of September 2012 he had left the club and in the first weeks of October 2012 he was coaching at Ipswich Academy. on 17th May 2013 he was named as the manager of Haverhill Rovers.

Apps 127 Subs 3 Goals 0
Updated 17/05/2013

Ben Griffiths

A young defender (b 20/09/90) he joined the club In January 2009 from Colchester United on a work experience loan. He had been with the Essex club since the age of eight going through to becoming an apprentice in July 2007. He returned to Colchester at the end of February 2009. Later that year he went to Missouri State College in the USA and played in 2010 for their Missouri State Bears ‘Soccer’ Team. He played again during 2010/11 and was still there in January 2012.

Apps 5 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 05/03/12

Jamie Griffiths

A Bury St Edmunds born midfielder (04/01/92) who lived in Great Cornard, played as a youngster for Cornard Dynamos and attended the Ipswich Town Academy then progressed through their youth system. He signed professionally for them in April 2010 and made his first team debut in the League Cup on 26^th October 2010. He suffered a bad back injury but in May 2011 was offered a-six month extension to the contract that he took up. At the start of September 2011 he went on loan to Plymouth Argyle and made four starts and five substitute appearances being sent off in the last one before returning to Suffolk. At the end of December 2011 Ipswich Town did not renew his contract and he left the club. He had trials with clubs including Colchester United, Gillingham and Braintree Town before signing for AFC on March 2nd 2012, making his debut the following day and remaining until the end of the 2011/12 season when he left. He signed a two year contract with Kettering Town on 2nd July 2012.

Apps 11 Subs 0 Goals 1

Updated 04/07/12

Trevor Gunn
A veteran central defender, he came to the club in December 1999 when a sudden injury crisis struck. ‘Gunny’ who had previously played for Sudbury Town and Braintree Town, performed well but left in April 2000 when the injuries cleared up. He became manager of his home town club Takely in the Essex League but announced that he would step down due to his business commitments in the aircraft repair industry at the end of the 2005/06 season.

Apps 12 Subs 1 Goals 1

Updated 15/05/12

Lawrence Hale
A young midfield player (b 17/06/89) who previously played for Maldon Town before going to Loughborough University, there he became an International player, playing for GB Students at Futsal. He played for Loughborough University in the Midland Combination Premier Division before signing for AFC on 18th December 2008. He returned to University in January 2009. In March 2009 he represented Loughborough University at futsal. September 2009 saw him playing for Loughborough Dynamo and he was still there in January 2010. At the start of the 2010/11 season, July 2010, he was playing for Heybridge Swifts.

Apps 0 Subs 4 Goals 0
Updated 27/07/10

Blair Hammond
Signed for AFC on 29th January 2010, a 21 year old forward (b 18/11/86) he joined Ipswich Town’s Academy at the age of fourteen and became part of their winning 2005 FA Youth Cup squad. He then spent time coaching in America before signing for AFC. He left the club after only a short time. On 3rd July 2010 he played for Hadleigh United, but later in the month signed for Ipswich Wanderers.

Apps 3 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 19/09/11

Craig Hammond
He signed for Histon at the start of the 2009/10 season from Royston Town where he scored 80 goals the previous season. He was previously with Histon as a youth player (b 18/03/87) and also played for Mildenhall Town. He joined AFC on 13th January 2010 on a month’s loan spell, returning to Histon on 14th February after scoring a hat trick the previous day. He did not play for Histon again and decided to retire from Conference football on 16th March. Histon cancelled his contract with them on 1st April 2010. On 14th July 2010 he had signed for Cambridge City, and in January 2011 he went for a trial with Queens Park Rangers. On 16th March 2011 he signed an extension to his contract to stay at Cambridge until the end of the 2011/12 season. At the end of the 2010/11 season he won the NLP Step 3 Player of the Year Award and the City Player of the Year Award after scoring 38 goals. he remained with the club throughout the 2011/12 season and on 14th May 2012 signed again for the 2012/13 season. On 20th March 2013 having been put on the transfer list he signed once again for Royston Town.

Apps 4 Subs 0 Goals 3
Updated 20/03/2013

Luke Hammond
A midfield player signed from Leiston just prior to the start of the 2006/07 season. He started his career at Colchester United, the went to play professionally in Holland before returning to play for a number of local clubs including Cornard United, Wivenhoe Town and Braintree Town, before joining Leiston in season 2005/06. His brother Kirk played for Sudbury Town in the late1990’s, his father Geoff played for both Ipswich Town and Manchester City. Late in the 2006/07 season he sustained a groin injury that would require surgery. He had the operation in May 2007 and played again on 4th August. On 4th January 2008 it was announced that he was available for transfer, and on 9th January a months loan to Cambridge City was agreed. This was to have started on 18th January but on 12th the deal was scrapped and on 15th January he was taken off the transfer list and continued to play for the club. In June 2008 he signed on again for season 2008/09. In January 2009 he asked to be released from the club due to work commitments, and he left on 16th January and was signed by Felixstowe and Walton United on 23rd. A change of employment meant he could commit himself to the club so on 16th February 2009 he re-signed for AFC. On 12th May he signed once again for season 2009/10, however in the middle of August 2009 he asked to be released. On 28th August he signed yet again for Felixstowe and Walton United, however on 25th September 2009 he had joined Heybridge Swifts. He was still there in July 2010 at the start of the 2010/11 season, in early September 2010 he was believed to be on trial with San Hose Eathquakes. On 15th September Heybridge announced that he had left them and on 4th October he re-joined Leiston on a contract until the end of 2011. Leiston announced on 13th June 2011 that he had been released from his contract by mutual consent and three days later he had signed for Heybridge Swifts again. He moved back yet again to Leiston on 17th October 2011 and at the end of the season won promotion with them. He remained with them at the start of  the 2012/13 season.

Apps 105 Subs 17 Goals 10
Updated 05/08/12

Jermaine Harewood
Young forward signed from Ipswich Wanderers at the start of the 2002/03 season, ‘Jamma’ made his debut at Dereham Town in September 2002. He was informed at the end of season 2002/03 that he could leave the club. In July 2003 left and signed for Woodbridge Town, however on 1st November he transferred to Mildenhall Town. In January 2004 he returned to Woodbridge Town. On 12th July 2004 the Bury Free Press reported he had signed for Stowmarket Town and he played for them and scored against AFC on 25th August 2004. Towards the end of February 2005 he was transferred to Needham Market. He signed at the start of the 2006/07 season for Whitton United and was still there in January 2007. In September 2007 he was playing for Stanway Rovers and was with them again in August 2008. He played for them throughout season 2008/09, but in July 2009 he had moved onto Whitton United for 2009/10. On 24th August 2009 he transferred to Hadleigh United. In April 2011 he was playing in the Suffolk and Ipswich League for Ransomes. On 3rd November 2012 he was turning out for Ipswich Exiles and was still there in February 2013.

Apps 12 Subs 11 Goals 0

Updated 03/02/13

Liam Harrold
A 25 year old striker signed on the 12th December 2006 from Wisbech Town to boost an injury hit squad. He previously played for Blackstones, Boston Town, Corby Town, St Neots, Spalding United and Arlesey Town. He made his debut away at Newport County in an F.A. Trophy tie on 16th December 2006. He played only four more times before being released and joined Mildenhall Town on 17th January 2007, and was there at the start of the 2007/08 season. On 29th August 2007 he was reported to have signed for Blackstones in the UCL. On 5th July 2008 he was reported to have signed for Yaxley in the United Counties League. He was still playing with them in October 2008. In June 2009 he transferred to Deeping Rangers, but in July 2009 he was playing for St Neots Town. In August 2010 he was still with them, but on 16th October 2010 he transferred to Deeping Rangers. On 27th May 2011 he was announced as a new signing for Spalding United. At the start of the 2011/12 season he was back with Yaxley but on 1st December 2011 he signed for King’s Lynn Town. On 2nd March he signed a week-by-week loan deal with March Town United. At the beginning of June 2012 Spalding United announced he had signed once again for them, however on 29th September 2012 he was playing for Peterborough ICA Sports. Holbeach announced on 3rd December 2012 that he had signed for them.

Apps 5 Subs 0 Goals 2
Updated 04/12/12

Gary Harvey

Having played for both Sudbury Town Reserves and then for a long period Sudbury Wanderers he remained with the new club on amalgamation as a player in the reserve side. He won the Reserve Player’s Player of the Year in 1999/00.The joint owner of MEL Aviation the club’s main sponsors, the defender played onto the end of season 2000/01. After that he became the manager of the second team before having to step down after intervention from the Inland Revenue in 2002. In March 2003 he was back with the club having been asked to become first team manager from the start of the 2003/04 season. In that his first season the club won the Ridgeons League title with three games to spare. Guided the club to the F.A. Vase Final but lost to Winchester City, but won the Suffolk Premier Cup. The club retained the Ridgeons League title in 2004/05 but lost the F.A. Vase final against Didcot Town. He continued in season 2005/06 but on 1st April 2006 he decided that he would retire from management at the end of the season to devoted more time to his business affairs. The club finished third in the Ridgeons League and were promoted to the Ryman Division One North. The Ridgeons League Cup was won for the first time at Diss Town against Lowestoft Town but he was not there to see it won. He continued through the MEL Group to support the club into the 2009/10 season. In May and June 2010 he completed a charity cycle ride from Serbia to Sudbury along with Darren Pratt. He continued to sponsor the clubs kit in season 2012/13 and The MEL Group sponsored the first game of it which he attended on 18th August 2012.

Games 190 Won 136 Lost 30 Drawn 24
Updated 20/08/12

David Hawes
A combative forward player born 26/04/87, he played for Maldon Town leaving in September 2008 before joining Harwich and Parkeston, Great Wakering Rovers and Witham Town. He signed for AFC on 17th January 2009. He was not retained for the 2009/10 season and returned to Witham Town, however on 21st November 2009 he re-signed for AFC. There were only five appearances before he left again in January 2010. In March 2010 he was playing again for Witham Town. In November 2011 he was only playing Sunday football for Highfield Vics in the Chelmsford League.

Apps 23 Subs 0 Goals 1

Updated 26/11/11

Kevin Hawes
An uncompromising forward (b 26/4/87) who unsettled defences, he previously played for Chelmsford City, Witham Town and Maldon Town from where he signed for AFC on 25th September 2008. He played through the 2008/09 season and ended as the club’s leading scorer with 22 goals. He was however not retained for the 2009/10 season.
On 2nd July 2009 he had joined Witham Town again, however on 9th October 2009 he re-signed for AFC. He played until December 2009 when knee injury stopped him playing and was believed to need an operation. On 20th March 2010 he appeared again for Witham Town. The knee operation was done in April 2010 and at the start of 2011/12 he played Sunday football for Highfield Vics in the Chelmsford League. From October 2011 he played a number of games for Lawford Lads, and on 24th November 2011 he re-signed for AFC. On 13th January 2012 he was released from the club not being able to command a regular starting place in the team.

Apps 60 Subs 3 Goals 27

Updated 13/01/12

Adrian Hayes
Known as ’Adie’ (b 22/05/78) he signed at the start of the 2004/05 season having played the previous season in the Conference for Farnborough Town. He had played for Diss Town before playing in the Football League for Cambridge United (34 apps 95/98). He also played for Kings Lynn and Kettering Town. He made his first AFC appearance in a pre-season game against Desborough Town at King’s Marsh on 17th July 2004. Got injured in his second pre-season game at Witham Town and in September 2004 found out he had a ruptured cruciate ligament in his knee and needed a major operation to repair it. This would keep him out of action for around nine months. He made a remarkable recovery and came on as a substitute at home to make his debut on 14th April 2005 against Mildenhall Town and also made an appearance in the Vase final against Didcot Town. It was not until 3rd September 2005 that he started a league game. He played through the 2005/06 season, but his services were not required by the new manager at the start of the 2006/07 season and he signed for Mildenhall Town. He was red carded in his first competitive game for them and on 11th September left and signed for Dereham Town. He was still with them at the start of the 2007/08 season and played throughout it. In the middle of June 2008 he joined Diss Town. February 2009 saw him thinking of retiring due to a knee injury but decided to carry on, however he did not play again in 2009/10. At the start of the 2010/11 season in July 2011 he was back training with Fakenham Town. In December 2011 he was still playing for the ‘Ghosts’.

Apps 56 Subs 4 Goals 7

Updated 10/12/11

Curtis Haynes-Brown
A young quick left sided or central defender (b 15/04/89) he was with Colchester United for seven years, he then played for Ipswich Wanderers before going on trial with Ipswich Town at the start of the 2008/09 season and he also trialled with Millwall and Bristol Rovers. He signed for AFC on the eve of the 2008/09 season and played throughout it. In the middle of April 2009 he signed on for the 2009/10 season and played all of it, but at the beginning of June 2010 he left and signed for Lowestoft Town, and played for them throughout the 2010/11 season. At the beginning of July 2011 he was having a trial with Crewe Alexandra, nothing materialised and he returned to Lowestoft. On 19th July he was on trial at Yeovil Town and on 25th July 2011 signed a two year contract with them. He made a couple of first team appearances during 2011/12, however on 22nd August 2012 he joined AFC Wimbledon on a three month loan deal. In his first game on 25th August he scored an own goal and was stretchered off with a neck injury going to hospital. He was detained overnight but discharged with only bruising the following day. He returned to Yeovil to regain fitness and played again for AFC Wimbledon in the middle of September 2012. He remained with ‘The Dons’ until the end of October 2012 when he went back to his parent club. On 22nd November 2012 he went out on loan again, this time to Cambridge United for a couple of month, this however was turned into a permanent move on 3rd January 2013. On 25th April The U’s announced he would not be retained for the 2013/14 season.

Apps 79 Subs 4 Goals 1

Updated 25/04/13

David Head
A tall young defender, signed at the start of the 2002/03 season from Ipswich Wanderers ,and having also played at Harwich and Parkeston. He is the son of Martin Head who was a manager of Sudbury Town. In season 2003/04 was unlucky with injury but returned to play well and was chosen as the Manager’s Player of the Year. In September 2004 was the subject of an approach from Heybridge Swifts, he was valued at £10,000 and there was no more heard from them. In March 2005 signed a new contract at AFC and at the end of the season won the Manager’s Player of The Year Award. Season 2005/06 was an outstanding season for ‘Heady’, at the end of it he swept the board with awards. He won the First Team Players Player of the Year, the Supporters Player of the Year and the First Team Managers Player of the Year. He remained at the club in 2006/07 and was appointed club Captain by the new manager. On 12th December 2006 he signed a contract extension until the end of the 2007/08 season. He won the Supporters Player of the Year for 2006/07 and was presented with the trophy by Ray Clemence on 21st April 2007 before the final home game of the season. He also won the Top Goal Scorer award for the season with 16 goals. Continued as Captain in season 2007/08 and played throughout the campaign. In June 2008 he decided his future was away from AFC and on 16th June he signed for Leiston on a two year contract. He suffered a bad injury during the 2008/09 season but came back to play a couple of games before the end of it. On May 26th 2009 he was appointed assistant manager of the club, but later in the season relinquished the position to concentrate on playing. He captained the side through the 2010/11 season to win the league and promotion. David repeated the feat in the 2011/12 season winning the Managers Player of the Year Award also. He remained with the east Suffolk club for season 2012/13.

Apps 326 Subs 6 Goals 66

Updated 06/08/12

Simon Head
David’s brother a midfielder who was previously with Ipswich Wanderers, Woodbridge, Harwich, Lowestoft and Halstead, before being snapped up as new manager Gary Harvey’s first signing at the start of season 2003/04. Started only nine games before becoming injured, made a few sub appearances later in season. On 30th March 2004 he was transferred to Clacton Town. On 3rd July 2004 it was reported that he had re-signed for Halstead Town for the 2004/05 season. On 26th October 2004 he signed for Heybridge Swifts, however after a change of management at the club he returned to Halstead in late November 2004. On Tuesday 29th March 2005 he signed for Needham Market, and played for them throughout the season. At the start of the 2006/07 season he returned to AFC with manager Mark Morsley. He played in some pre-season games but was released from his contract and signed for Leiston on 31st August 2006. After injury problems he signed in the middle of December 2006 for Mildenhall Town, at the beginning of June 2007 he had left the club. On 7th June 2007 it was announced that he had signed once again for AFC, he played until the end of the 2007/08 season. Brantham Athletic announced him as a new signing for 2008/09 on 11th June 2008. He left the Essex club and played for Leiston on 1st November 2008. Harwich and Parkeston announced on 27th January 2009 that he had signed for them on an eighteen month contract. At the start of the 2009/10 season he however initially signed for Hadleigh United but on 10th August 2009 he transferred to Walsham-le-Willows. At the start of the 2010/11 season, July 2010, he signed for Leiston and won promotion with them in April 2011. At the beginning of August 2011 the club announced that he had been released, and on 6th August he turned out for Hadleigh United. He suffered an early season achilles injury and was said to have retired in the middle of September 2011, or playing in goal for Ipswich Hospitals on a Sunday. On 9th December 2011 Hadleigh United announced that he had transferred to Ipswich Wanderers. On 7th September 2012 he was a player for SIL side Cranes.

Apps 62 Subs 7 Goals 10

Updated 07/09/12

Daniel Heath
A 20 year old goalkeeper (b 15/04/90)  signed on in an emergency on 26th October 2010, he played the same day in an SPC game. He started off at Cambridge United, had spells at Cambridge City, Newmarket Town, March Town United and was due to sign a contract with Eastwood Town when he played for AFC. On 6th November he had apparently signed for Deeping Rangers, but he then e-mailed all Ridgeons League clubs stating he was available. On 6th December 2010 he had signed for Felixstowe and Walton United. He trained pre-season 2011/12 with Histon, but on 4th October 2011 he signed for Hadleigh United. On 16th December 2011 they announced he had signed a contract to stay with them until them until the end of the 2012/13 season. At the end of the 2011/12 season he won the Supporters Player of the Year Award, and he played in the first game of the 2012/13 season for the Millfield club. He was still there in January 2013 when on 24th he went on  two months loan to Leiston, however he was recalled early on 19th February due to injury problems at Hadleigh. On 18th April 2013 he stated his intention to leave at the end of the season to pursue his ambition to play professional football. On 17th May 2013 he had joined Wroxham for the 2013/14 season.

Apps 1 Subs 1 Goals 0
Updated  18/05/13

Gareth Heath
A forward who signed for the club on 29th December 2006 from Heybridge Swifts. He previously played for both Halstead Town and Maldon Town, and in doing so attracted the attentions of Scottish League club St Mirren. An ankle injury towards the end of season 2005/06 resulted in an operation and his appearances at the start of the 2006/07 season were limited and a ‘clean up op’ was needed just before he signed for AFC. Made his AFC debut on 13th January 2007 against Waltham Forest as a substitute, he remained at the club for season 2007/08. At the end of the season he won the First Team Manager’s Player Of The Year Award. On 2nd July 2008 he agreed a deal to remain with the club for 2008/09, and was appointed as Captain and played throughout the season. On 2nd June 2009 it was announced that he had agreed to stay for the 2009/10 season which he did, and won the Leading Goalscorer of the Year award at the end of it. At the beginning of June 2010 he decided to sign for Leiston. He played throughout the 2010/11 season winning the league title and promotion. He remained at the Victory Road club in October 2011 and played throughout the 2011/12 season winning promotion at the end of it. On 14th June 2012 the club stated he had signed to stay with them until the end of the 2012/13 season which he did winning the Supporters Player Of The Year Award at the end of it.

Apps 156 Subs 3 Goals 54

Updated 26/04/13

Richard Heller
This eighteen year old made his debut on 1st April 2006 after being released by Tottenham Hotspur. He lived in Stanstead, a fast nippy forward, and was a crowd pleaser with his darting runs. At the end of the 2005/06 season he was offered a contract with the club by the new manager, but decided to sign for Haverhill Rovers for 2006/07. In July 2007 he signed a year long extension to his contract with Rovers and a year later signed another extension for the club. On 20th March 2008 he released himself from the contract due to injury and announced he was off to university in the summer. He made 63 appearances for Rovers scoring 13 times. In July 2008 he agreed to play again for Haverhill when back from university. On 20th December 2008 he did play again for the Hamlet Croft club. At the start of the 2009/10 season he was playing still with Rovers and scored twice for them on 25th August 2009. In February 2011 he was reported to be studying at Loughborough University. On 14th September 2011 he was playing for Haverhill Sports Association, but was still at Loughborough University playing for them regularly.

Apps 10 Subs 0 Goals 1
Updated 06/03/12

Rhys Henry
A young midfield player he signed for the club on 21st August 2009, the son of former Sudbury Town man Michael Henry. He played only one game for the club the next day and was not seen again. He was with Southend United youth set up and on 8th August 2008 went on a months loan to Thurrock. He later played for a number of local clubs and at the end of December 2009 played for Team Bury. In October 2010 he was with Maldon and Tiptree and on 12th October he was transferred to Needham Market. On 19th March 2011 he had signed on dual registration and was playing for Felixstowe and Walton United, but in early May 2011 was back with Needham. The Bloomfields club announced on 1st June 2011 that he had left the club. At the start of the 2011/12 season he joined Harlow Town and scored the winning goal against AFC on 10th September 2011. On 14th October 2011 they announced that he had left them. Leiston was his next stop signing for them on 17th October and scoring on his debut the next day. On 25th November 2011 Leiston announced he had signed a contract with them until the end of May 2012. He played until then winning promotion at the end of the season, and continued with them at the start of the 2012/13 season. On 20th December 2012 he went on a months loan back to Needham Market.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 20/12/12

Ryan Henshaw
A sixteen year old (b 6/07/93) midfield player when he signed on 31st March 2010, made his debut as a substitute on 3rd April 2010. He previously played for Witham Town’s reserve side and also the Essex under 18′s representative side. He signed again for the 2010/11 season and on 30th October 2010 was chosen for an England Schools under 18 trial, which was successful and had further trials on 13th November 2010, but was not chosen. At the end of November 2010 he was on trial with Colchester United, he had the trial extended to run into January 2011 due to bad weather. In the middle of January 2011 the Essex club decided that he would not be staying with them. Towards the end of January 2011 Chelmsford City put in an approach for him and on 24th January he signed for them. He returned to AFC on 26th February and played until the end of the season. On 30th April 2011 he signed a contract to stay with the club until the end of the 2011/12 season. He played until the end of the 2011/12 season but was then not retained. On 4th August  2012 he was playing for Haverhill Rovers, however on 14th November he signed once again for AFC.

Apps  Subs  Goals
Updated 14/11/12

Adam Holmes

A defender, he joined the club in the middle of the 2010/11  season from Great Wakering Rovers. He started his career with Chelmsford City before going to Wakering in 2006, after leaving them he played for Maldon Town, Canvey Island and Witham Town before going back to Wakering in 2008 and played sixty-six times.  He initially played for the club’s reserve side but was promoted to the first team squad in March 2011 and was named on the bench a number of times. He returned in season 2011/12 and eventually made his debut coming off the bench at Heybridge on 18th October 2011. On 12th December 2011 he left the club and re-joined Great Wakering Rovers

Apps 1 Subs 5 Goals 0

Updated 14/12/2011

Fred Howe
As a sixteen year old goalkeeper (b 27/09/92), he joined the club at the start of the 2010/11 season. His youth football started with Boxford Rovers, Lexden Saints and Cornard United during which time he was with both Ipswich Town and Colchester United and excelled in their youth set ups as well as the Suffolk number ne in his age group. He became part of the Peterborough United youth scheme in 2008/09 becoming their top keeper before joining Team Bury in 2009/10. While there he became the Suffolk under 18 keeper and was on the subs bench for Bury Town. When joined AFC he played reserve team football for the majority of the season (although he made his first team debut on 16th October 2010 in a League Cup game at Lowestoft). He played the last seven games of the 2010/11 season for the first team and won the Reserve Team Manager’s Player of the Year award at the end of it. He was signed on contract for the 2011/12 season but the arrival of Danny Gay meant that on 9th August 2011 he went on a season long loan to Felixstowe and Walton United. The loan did not work out and on 1st December 2011 he was back at AFC but could not be officially signed back on until 1st January 2012. He played for the reserves for the remainder of the 2011/12 season. In July 2012 he was back with the club and played a pre-season game and then the reserve side. Towards the end of September he was re-instated to the first team squad after Gay returned to King’s Lynn and on 29th he played for the first team. This however did not last and he went back to reserve football and at the end of the season won the Managers Player of the Year award.

Apps  Subs  Goals
Updated 18/05/13

Jamie Howe
He had played previously for Sudbury Wanderers before the amalgamation. A strong tackling no nonsense defender who perhaps did not make the most of his first team opportunities. He won the Reserve Team Player’s Player of the Year 2001/02. ‘Gipp’ left the club at start of season 2002/03 to join Long Melford. At the start of season 2004/05 he joined Cornard United. In March 2005 he signed for Sudbury Athletic. At the beginning of 2005/06 he signed on at AFC to play in the reserve side, he was part of the winning Suffolk Junior Cup side at Portman Road in April 2006. He made a number of first team appearances towards the end of the season and played well. He re-signed for the club at the start of 2006/07 and was captain of the Reserve side. Midway through the season he stopped playing, but returned to play the final two games. In September 2008 he was playing again for Sudbury Athletic and was still there in May 2009. In the middle of June 2009 he was announced as one of two assistant managers of Sudbury Athletic for 2009/10. He was there again at the start of the 2010/11 season and remained throughout. For the 2011/12 campaign he was still with Athletic, but the club folded midway through the season in December 2011. In April 2012 he was playing for Wormingford Wanderers. On 15th December 2012 he was turning out for Long Melford.

Apps 53 Subs 17 Goals 0
Updated 25/12/12

Richard Howell
A midfielder (b 29/08/82), who started his career at West Ham before joining Crystal Palace on 1st August 2000, leaving on 28th March 2003 when he joined Stevenage Borough. He remained with them until 23rd May 2003 when he signed for Bishop’s Stortford. In the last week on season 2003/04 he broke his leg, he regained fitness only to break it again early in season 2004/05. He fought his way back to fitness only to break his leg again, this time not playing football. He signed for AFC on 5th December 2008 on a dual registration, he scored on his debut the next day. He was not retained for the 2009/10 season, and signed for Hitchin Town, where he played throughout. He was with the Hertfordshire club again in December 2010, and won promotion with them in May 2011. He signed for AFC permanently on 24th June 2011 and on 24th September signed a contract until the end of the 2011/12 season. He played throughout the season but was not retained in June 2012. On 19th June 2012 he had re-joined Hitchin Town for the 2012/13 season, however on 1st August they announced that he had decided to retire to spend more time with his family.

Apps 53 Subs 15 Goals 13
Updated 02/08/12

Chris Howlett
He joined the club from Diss Town in March 2001, a strong central defender (b 04/08/67) who had previously played for Grundisburgh, Felixstowe, Hadleigh United and Bury Town. He was very disappointed not to have made the bench in the Vase final of 2002/03, and was going to retire at the end of that season but stayed on, he did not regret his decision. ‘Shabba’ played throughout season 2003/04 but was again left out of the F.A. Vase Final squad. In season 2004/05 he spent the early part of the season on the bench, but played many games late in the season and made the squad for the 2004/05 F.A. Vase final. He decided to leave at the end of that season and in early June 2005 signed for Needham Market, where he played through the 2005/6 season. When the new AFC manager Mark Morsley came from Needham Market at the start of the 2006/07 season he bought ‘Shabba’ back to the club as player coach. On 16th January 2007 he publicly announced that he would retire from top class football at the end of the 2006/07 season. He left at the end of the season and intended to join Grundisburgh in the SIL. In July 2007 he played pre-season games for Felixstowe and Walton United, and then signed for the ‘Seasiders’. He remained with the club at the start of the 2008/09 season, but in January 2009 he was playing for Grundisburgh. He played for them throughout the 2009/10 season. He made a few appearances for their reserves side in 2010/11 but after that he retired.

Apps 170 Subs 76 Goals 10

Updated 19/09/11

Andy Hughes
A well built striker who signed for AFC on loan on 15th December 2009, having previously played for Braintree Town, he made his debut against Aylesbury United and scored. He decided to return to Braintree at the start of February 2010. In the middle of March 2010 he had joined Long Melford. In October 2011 he was back playing for Braintree Town Reserves, and he continued in season 2012/13 and was still there in February 2013.

Apps 3 Subs 1 Goals 1

Updated 15/02/13

Bradley Hughes
A fast raiding striker, he joined the club in November 2007 and played in the reserve side. He previously had experience at Potters Bar in their reserve team. He played for AFC Reserves through 2007/08 and 2008/09 and was named a substitute in that season but injured himself in the half-time warm up. He stayed with the club in 2009/10 and made his debut as a substitute on 18th August 2009. He re-signed for the club at the start of the 2010/11 season, but had left in December 2010. On 12th October 2011 he had returned to the club, soon disappeared again

Apps 2 Subs 3 Goals 0
Updated 06/06/12

Craig Hughes
He was a forward player (b 20/11/87) who started his career with Colchester United in season 2002/03 and played in their youth teams. He went on loan to Hendon on 5th October 2005 but was on the bench for Colchester’s first team on 24th January 2006 against Cheltenham Town. He went to Staines Town on loan on transfer deadline day 1st April 2006, and on 22nd March 2007 he went on a months loan to Cambridge United. On 31st May 2007 he was released by Colchester and was snapped up by Heybridge Swifts and made his debut for them on 6th October 2007. He moved in early October 2007 to Thurrock, he signed for AFC on a months loan on 5th December 2008. He subsequently returned to Thurrock at the end of his loan period. On 4th June 2009 he was signed by AFC for the 2009/10 season and at the end of it won the Managers Player of the Year award. He re-signed or the 2010/11 season and was appointed Club Captain, however on 14th October 2010 he was placed on the transfer list. He played for the club on 17th October but on 20th he went on a months loan to Cambridge City. On 18th November he completed a permanent transfer to the Milton Road club and played there until the end of the 2010/11 season. On 1st July 2011 he was announced as a new signing by Metropolitan Police, he played a few games for them before he suffered a double fracture of the right leg. He was still recovering from it at the end of November 2011. At the start of 2013 he played a few reserve games for Metropolitan Police but on 23rd February he played for Witham Town against AFC. during the last week of march 2013 he was back with Met Police.

Apps 62 Subs 2 Goals 8
Updated 04/03/13

Kevin Hughes
He was a tall, strong central defender who started off his football career with Colchester United and then went to Wivenhoe Town. A Police Officer serving in Essex, he joined Harwich and Parkeston and from there went to Needham Market to join the current AFC manager. He joined AFC at the start of the 2006/07 season to renew that partnership at King’s Marsh. He sustained an injury towards the end of September 2006 and had a cartilage operation on 4th October and it was found that he had snapped his cruciate ligament. This would require another operation and likely to keep him out of football for some time. The operation was a success and hopes of a comeback in late 2007 the plan. His comeback was on 7th November 2007 in a friendly at Brantham and after two further games went on loan to Harwich and Parkeston to continue his rehabilitation. On 2nd February 2008 he was back in the AFC fold and played at Ilford and played until the end of the season when he left. Early in July 2008 he signed for Stanway Rovers, and played only three games before he had a re-occurrence of the knee injury and had another operation on it. Recovery was complete at the start of pre-season 2009/10 and he was still with Stanway in December 2010. In May 2011 he was playing with Border League side Brightlingsea Regent and was with them again at the start of the 2011/12 season when they joined the Ridgeons League on promotion. He continued in the 2012/13 season culminating into promotion to the Premier Division of The Thurlow Nunn League.

Apps 15 Subs 7 Goals 0
Updated 18/04/13

Marcus Hunt
A central defender or midfield man, he arrived at King’s Marsh at the start of the 2008/09 season after 11 years with his only senior club Haverhill Rovers. He had six weeks in the 2007/08 season as player manager of the Hamlet Croft club. On 20th December 2008 he returned to Haverhill Rovers to play but with AFC retaining his Southern League registration. He remained with Haverhill for the 2009/10 season, however on 16th December 2009 he played again for the club when an injury/suspension crisis struck. He was still playing at Haverhill’s new ground in December 2010, and did so again throughout the 2011/12 season. He was still with the New Croft club, playing for them on 4th August 2012.

Apps 29 Subs 4 Goals 0
Updated 05/08/12

Simon Hyde
He was previously with Sudbury Wanderers and joined on amalgamation. Nicknamed ‘Bambi’ due to his long legs and gangly running style he always gave wholehearted performances, Never knew what his best position was, although mainly used as a defender. He won the First Team Manager’s Player of the Year in season 2001/02. He played for the club in 2002/03, 2003/04 and 2004/05. He played through the 2005/06 season and never gave less that 100% in each game. At the end of the season the new AFC manager decided not to re-sign him and he signed for Ipswich Wanderers at the start of the 2006/07 season and played throughout it. At the start of the 2007/08 pre-season he played for Walsham le Willows, Felixstowe and Walton United and Whitton United. In August 2007 he signed and played for Whitton United in Ridgeons Division One. He played throughout the 2007/08 season winning promotion. At the start of the 2008/09 season he was playing for Cornard United and captained the side. He remained with the Blackhouse Lane club at the start of the 2009/10 season, however he picked up an early season groin injury that required an operation in the middle of December 2009. In March 2010 he was back playing for Cornard. Hadleigh United reported on 5th July 2010 that he had signed for them and he was still there in December 2010. The Millfield club announced on 18th February 2011 that he had left and signed again for Whitton United. He was still playing for them on 25th February 2012, and won the Suffolk Senior Cup with them in May 2012. On 7th August 2012 he stated he had retired at the age of 35 years to spend more time with his two boys aged 2 and 4.

Apps 265 Subs 52 Goals 30
Updated 07/08/12

Lee Ifield
A small player (b 11/04/88) with tremendous pace and enthusiasm, he signed for the club from Foxash Social to supplement the side for midweek reserve team games. He made his debut against Wivenhoe Town Reserves in a Chell Trophy tie on 12th December 2006. In season 2007/08 he continued to play for the reserve side and returned in 2008/09. He joined up with the first team squad on 27th September 2008 and made his debut as a substitute at Sutton Coldfield Town. His first full appearance did not come until 5th March 2009 against Lowestoft Town in the SPC semi-final. He remained at King’s Marsh at the start of the 2009/10 season, but broke his arm early in October 2009. He resumed playing midway through December 2009, but broke his arm yet again in March 2010. He signed yet again for the club at the start of season 2010/11 season and played a first team game in November 2010. The 2011/12 campaign saw him still playing for the club, and at the end of it he won the Reserve Team Players Player Of The Year Award. He repeated this feat at the end of the 2012/13 season.

Apps  Subs  Goals
Updated 18/05/13

Luke Ingram

A nineteen-year old (b 16/11/93) signed from Bury Town on 13th January 2012 making his debut the next day. He played for Woodbridge Town under 16′s and then went to West Suffolk College and represented them as well as Suffolk under 16′s and under 18′s. He joined Team Bury before signing for Bury Town in 2009/10 and was there the next season and 2011/12. In December 2011 he had a loan spell at Hadleigh United. He played only two games for AFC before he was allowed to go to Hadleigh United again on loan and on 19th February 2012 his Ryman registration was cancelled at AFC. He was in April 2012 playing again at Hadleigh United. On 8th June 2012 Bury Town stated he would be joining them again when pre-season training started to try and force his way into their side. He played pre-season for them and on 4th August 2012 played again for Team Bury, but then continued in the Bury Town squad. On 22nd March 2013 he rejoined AFC.

Apps 10 Subs 0 Goals 3

Updated 15/05/13

Trevor Irvine
‘Biggles’ had been with Sudbury Wanderers for a number of years before going to Long Melford, but returned to AFC to play in the Reserves in 2005/06. He played in the winning Suffolk Junior Cup in April 2006. He signed again for the club in 2006/07 and when an injury crisis happened, he was on the bench for a Ryman League Cup game at Staines Town on 5th December 2006 at the age of 39, he did not get on. At the start of the 2007/08 season he returned to the club and stayed throughout it. He was back again at the beginning of the 2008/09 campaign, but could not commit to regular training and in January 2009 was playing at Sudbury Athletic. At the start of the 2009/10 season he was helping to run Cornard United Reserves. In the next couple of season he took up refereeing but stopped at the end of 2012.

Apps 0 Subs 1 Goals 0

Updated 03/02/13

Chris Jackson
A young central defender who was briefly with the club at the start of the 2004/05 season and played only one Eastern Floodlight game, he then left the club. In November 2007 he was playing for Sudbury Athletic and was still there in January 2009. He also played for them through the 2009/10 season.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 06/06/12

Jake Jackson

A sixteen year old defender (b 30/12/94) when he joined the club at the start of the 2012/13 season after being part of the Colne Academy and the AFC Sudbury Under 19′s side. he made his first team debut in a Suffolk Premier Cup tie at Bury Town on 9th October 2012. At the end of the season he won the club’s Young Player of the Year Award.

Apps   Subs   Goals

Updated 18/05/13

George Jermy
A left sided midfield player (b 12/01/88) he started his footballing career at Norwich City before joining Bournemouth. He returned to Norwich and then spent a month on work experience at Dereham then moving to Spain. There he linked up with his ex boss Kenny Brown again and played for CD Javea before trialling for CF Villareal. He moved back to England and a return to Norwich City before a short spell at Norwich United to regain match fitness. He played a few games for Wivenhoe Town before joining Bishop’s Stortford in pre-season 2008/09 and signing for AFC on 19th September 2008, but did not make his debut until 1st November 2008. He left the club on 15th December 2008. At the end of February 2009 this was confirmed on 1st April 2009 as he was playing again for CD Javea in Spain. He returned to the UK and in October 2009 played two games for Margate before transferring on 6th November 2009 and signing for Metropolitan Police. He appeared to have gone to Australia and after a spell  with Shepparton, he joined Victoria State League side Bentleigh Greens in 2010. He joined Junior Strikers, a football academy in Los Montesinos Spain in October 2011, giving his qualifications as a UEFA B-level coach and stated he had in Spain for Villarreal B, C.D Javea and FC Torrevieja and his coaching accomplishments included working on Youth Academy programmes for Chelsea and Norwich City and managing his own academy in Australia. On 17th June 2012 Gorleston announced that he had signed for them.

Apps 8 Subs 1 Goals 0

Updated 18/06/12

Andy Jones
A local lad he had played at Long Melford and then with Needham Market. He played on the left hand side of midfield and had a great turn of pace. He was employed as a Press Officer for Chelsea Football Club. Played only one game and not seen again, but in September 2009 he was playing the occasional Sunday game and still working for Chelsea FC. He was still with the Premiership club in July 2011. He was playing just five-a-side football and still with Chelsea in August 2012.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 08/08/12

Jack Jones

A seventeen year forward who had experience at both Norwich City and Cambridge United before joining AFC in September 2009 from Haverhill Rovers. He made his first team debut on 23rd January 2010 as a second-half substitute. He was given a trial by Maltese Second Division side Naxxar Lions at the start of the 2010/11 season but returned to the UK after only a few weeks. He then went and played a few games at Halstead Town in August 2010 but left there a short time later.

Apps 4 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 22/08/11

Liam Jones
A goalkeeper who signed for AFC on 15th August 2008 on a 28 day loan from Needham Market as an injury crisis struck the club prior to the start of the 2008/09 season. He previously played for Long Melford, Halstead Town, Bury Town and had represented England Colleges at under 19 level. He returned to Needham Market at the end of his loan period, where remained throughout the 2008/09 season. At the start of the 2009/10 season he was still with the Bloomfields club, but on 31st December 2009 he was made available for transfer. On 8th January 2010 he joined Felixstowe and Walton United and he was still there at the start of the 2010/11 season. At the start of October 2010 he suffered a double break of his leg, but returned to playing before the end of the season. On 21st July 2011 he left and signed for Debenham LC,  however on 14th January 2012 he played a ‘one off ‘ game for Needham Market. On 20th January 2012 he was back permanently with Needham Market. On 29th June 2012 it was announced that he could not agree terms with them for 2012/13 and was free to fine another club. On 29th July 2012 he played in a pre-season game for Felixstowe and Walton United and signed for them after the game. On 21st September 2012 he was allowed to leave and had signed for Whitton United.

Apps 6 Subs 1 Goals 0
Updated 21/07/12

Paul Jones
A right sided midfield player (b 10/02/82) , he joined AFC at the start of the 2009/10 season from Soham Town Rangers where he was the 2008/09 Supporters Player of the Year. He was also their top scorer with fifteen goals in forty six games. After only a few appearances he left the club on 24th September 2009 and later returned to play for Soham. On 9th December 2009 he was reported to have gone on loan to Newmarket Town and indeed was playing for the Jockeys in April 2010. In October 2010 he was scoring goals for Wisbech Town and on 20th August 2011 he was still with the fenland club. He left and in February 2012 was back playing for Soham Town Rangers. On 20th July 2012 he was named as a new signing for Mildenhall Town and he was still there in November 2012.

Apps 7 Subs 1 Goals 0
Updated 19/11/12

Steve Joyce
A midfield player, he came to the club in the middle of the 2007/08 season from Witham Town having also played for Cornard United. He played in the reserves until the end of March 2008 when he was named as a substitute for the first team. He made his debut on 9th April from the bench and started his first game on 19th April. He was signed again for the 2008/09 season. After a long term injury, on 16th February 2009 he was loaned to Haverhill Rovers for a month to enable him to get some match fitness. On 14th March he went to play on loan for Witham Town. He was not retained for the 2009/10 season, and re-signed for Witham Town he continue there throughout that and the 2010/11 season. In July 2011 he was still there but awaiting a hernia operation. He was playing for the Spa Road side in March 2012 and was still there in early August 2012, however on 11th August he had joined Saffron Walden Town on a months loan.

Apps 21 Subs 8 Goals 0

Updated 11/08/12

Andy Kemsley
An experienced defender, he had played for a number of local clubs, including Sudbury Athletic, joined to play for the Reserves and played just one Eastern Floodlight game in season 2004/05, and left at the end of the season. In season April 2008 he was playing for Glemsford and Cavendish Reserves. In May 2009 he had returned to Sudbury Athletic and was playing for their reserve side. He retired from competitive football and then in July 2011 was running as a hobby.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 20/07/11

Lee Kersey

A strong and experienced central defender (b 12/08/79)  he signed for AFC on 12th February 2011 from Billericay Town. He started his career with Tottenham Hotspur where he played well over one hundred reserve team games. He had a loan spell at Barnsley before being released and joining  Stevenage Borough. He went on to play for Chesham United, Chelmsford City, Heybridge Swifts, Windsor and Eton, Maidenhead United, AFC Wimbledon, Staines Town, Boreham Wood and Billericay Town. He played only two games both at right back and was not seen again. On 27th May 2011 Heybridge Swifts announced they had signed him for the 2011/12 season. On 4th August 2012 he was still playing for the Scraley Road side.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 09/08/12

Barry Lakin 

A former professional with Leyton Orient, was in non-league football for a number of years as a manager, coach and assistant manager before joining AFC towards the end of the 2011/12 season from Heybridge Swifts.  After start of the 2012/13 season in October 2012 he decided to stand down. He subsequently joined Stanway Rovers as assistant manager in November 2012 and on 7th January 2013 he was appointed as their manager.

Updated 08/01/13

Stuart Lillie
‘Lasher’, a lanky player he had previously been with Sudbury Town where he scored a wonder FA Cup goal in a replay against Stotfold in September 1998. He also played for most other locals clubs mainly as a striker before joining AFC’s reserve ranks. On 9th April 2002 his big day came was named as substitute for the first team against Clacton, he did not get on! At the start of season 2004/05 he was playing for Bures United. At the start of 2006/07 he had signed for Hadleigh United. In November 2007 he was playing for Sudbury Athletic, but 2009/10 he was with Long Melford. At the start of the 2011/12 season he was appointed as assistant/player manager of the newly reformed Bures United.

Apps 0 Subs 1 Goals 0

Updated 23/11/11

David Lorimer

A 20 year-old forward, he was with West Suffolk College then played for Stowmarket Town before in season 2010/11 scoring 58 goals in 28 games for Bildeston Rangers in the Suffolk and Ipswich League making him the league’s leading scorer. He joined AFC on trial at the start of the 2011/12 season, and on 28th July signed a year long contract with the club. He made his debut on 23rd August 2011, however on 3rd December he was allowed to go on a four week loan to Whitton United that was extended for a further four weeks. In the middle of January 2012 he was dual registered with both clubs. At the end of the 2011/12 season he was not retained by the club. On 25th August 2012 he was back playing with Bildeston Rangers. Whitton United announced on 4th March 2013 that he had joined them.

Apps 18 Subs 5 Goals 4

Updated 04/03/13

Updated As Humanly Possible At 26/03/2013

Since The Club Began

CONTINUED FROM PART ONE

Part Two M To Z

Peter Maina

A young eighteen year old (b 14/11/93) he signed for the reserves at the start of the 2012/13 season having played for Stanway Rovers Reserves at sixteen years of age. He then went to Wivenhoe Town’s first team and Colne College playing for the AFC Sudbury Under 19 side. He made his first team debut on 9th October 2012 in a SPC game at Bury Town and scored. He signed Ryman League forms for the club on 11th October 2012.

Apps   Subs   Goals

Updated 12/10/12

 Russell Malton
A 19 year old forward (b 14/11/90) who started his career with the Colchester United academy and was in their under 18 side in December 2007. ‘Malts’ was in their first team squad in September 2009. In early November 2009 he went on loan to Heybridge Swifts until January 2010 when he went on a months’ loan with Billericay Town. He re-joined Heybridge in March 2010 for a second loan period, Colchester United released him at the end of the 2009/10 season and he joined up with Concord Rangers, but was allowed to leave on 20th August joining up yet again with Heybridge and playing just one game before on 26th August they announced he would not play for them again. He signed for AFC on 3rd September 2010 and made his debut the next day, he played only eight games before being released on 14th October 2010. He signed for Stanway Rovers the next day and on his debut for them on 16th October scored twice. On 18th November he had signed again for Concord Rangers, however on 3rd February 2012 Stanway announced that he had returned to them. On 1st July 2011 he had signed a contract to stay at the club until the end of 2011/12. On 29th May 2012 Heybridge Swifts announced he had re-signed for them.

Apps 7 Subs 0 Goals 1

Updated 29/05/12

Ian Manby
Joined the club in 2004/05 as a defender from Cornard United, having played for many local clubs he was part of the reserve side but played in a couple of Eastern Floodlight games. He became part of the Reserve team management during season 2005/06 and remained so in season 2006/07. When Reserve team manager Bob Fletcher decided to stand down at the end of the 2006/07 season he was appointed to the post with effect from the start of the 2007/08 season. He remained at the club for season 2008/09 as Reserve Team Manager, and in May 2009 the Chell Trophy was won. The 2009/10 season saw him stay in position at King’s Marsh and it continued into the 2010/11 season when the side reached the final of the Suffolk Senior Reserve Team Cup. He was again manager of the reserve side for 2011/12, however in the middle of January 2012 he was appointed as temporary assistant first team manager. On 15th May 2012 he reverted back to be the reserve team manager and continued into the 2012/13 season.

Apps 3 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 12/10/12

Matthew Mann
He was signed on 2nd January 2006 from Cambridge United as cover for the injured Paul Rutherford. A 17 year old youth team keeper who made his debut in the 6-1 win at Mildenhall that same day. He played in the next game at home to Cambridge City, and then he went to play for Burnley Youths in the F.A. Youth Cup before returning to Cambridge but was released on 1st June 2006. He then played for Enfield, Chessington & Hook before starting the 2007/08 season with Thurrock and then was with Harrow Borough in September 2007. The 2008/09 season saw him start with Godalming Town and on 18th November 2008 he was transferred to Whyteleafe. In February 2009 he was playing for Sutton United’s reserve side. He was transferred to Corinthian Casuals on 6th March 2009 and was still there in September 2011.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 21/02/12

Nicky Marlow
A goalkeeper who joined the club at the start of the 2005/06 season, having previously been with Long Melford, Cornard United and other local clubs. He was called into first team action in the away F. A. Cup game in September 2005 against Welwyn Garden City after Paul Rutherford broke down in the pre-match warm up. ‘The Cat’ played for the Reserve side during the season and was part of the Suffolk Junior Cup winning side at Portman Road Ipswich in April 2006. He signed again for the club in season 2006/07, but played only a few reserve games before deciding not to play anymore. In season 2009/10 he was playing again this time for Sudbury Athletic, reaching the final of the Suffolk Junior Cup in April 2010. In September 2011 he continue to do work as a builder in the Sudbury area. In March 2012 he had stopped playing football and was playing some rugby with Bury RFC.

Apps 1 Subs 2 Goals 0

Updated 07/03/12

Keith Martin
He was the  manager of Sudbury Wanderers and became the first AFC manager in June 1999. Keith (b 22/05/41)  played for March Railway and March Town Reserves and later on after moving to the Sudbury area Highbury Barn. He started off his managerial career with Highbury Barn, progressing to Cornard United, Halstead Town and Braintree Town before coming to Brundon Lane. Won the Jewson League Championship in 2000/01 and 2001/02 the Suffolk Premier Cup in 2001/02 and reached the F.A. Vase semi-final the same season. In March 2003 decided that he would stand down at the end of the season, this he did after leading AFC to the Vase final at Upton Park in May 2003. On 15th December 2003 he joined Wroxham as their joint manager. In May 2004 was appointed as manager of Heybridge Swifts. In the early part of July 2004 was admitted to hospital where he had a big toe amputated. On 8th November due to ill health he resigned from Heybridge Swifts. In the middle of May 2005 it was announced that he was returning to Halstead Town as their assistant manager. On 15th September 2005 the Suffolk Free Press reported he had left because he was no longer enjoying it. He did not enjoy the best of health during 2007 and in July 2008 was again hospitalised. His death, aged 67, was announced on 1st September 2008 at his home Langley Hall. His funeral service was on 18th September at Holy Trinity Church Long Melford and he was buried later the same day at Great Cornard.

Games 237 Won 170 Lost 35 Drawn 32

Updated 24/02/12

Robbie Martin

Apps   Subs    Goals

Updated 22/07/12

Darren Mills
A young midfield player signed by AFC from Tiptree United in September 2008, he had previously played for Whitton United. He made his debut as a substitute in the SPC against Woodbridge Town on 15th October 2008, but made only one other substitute appearance before leaving for Felixstowe and Walton United on 1st November 2008. He did not stay long and on 29th November 2008 joined Hadleigh United, he stayed until the end of the season but in July 2009 signed for Whitton United for 2009/10. He did not play for the club up to the end of December 2009. At the start of the 2010/11 he signed for Ipswich Wanderers but only played a few games before his employment in the Army took him to Afghanistan where he was in February 2011. On 23rd July 2011 he was playing for Hadleigh United and the club announced he had signed for the 2011/12 season. Hadleigh stated on 6th September he had been posted to Cardiff and be unavailable for them for the rest of the season. On 9th February 2013 he was playing for Grundisburgh in the SIL.

Apps 2 Subs 3 Goals 0
Updated 10/02/13

Aynsley McDonald

An eighteen year old (b 25/01/92) defender signed for a months loan from Rushden and Diamonds on 17th September 2010, he made his debut the next day. He had the previous week played international football for the Welsh Under19 side. His previous clubs included Billericay Town, Wingate and Finchley and Banbury United. He returned to Rushden on 8th October, and was soon loaned out again this time to Banbury United, but before the end of the season returned once again to Rushden. On 3rd June 2011 Histon stated they were prepared to offering him a contact with them for the 2011/12 season. This did not materialise and on 20th June 2011 he was snapped up by Corby Town, he was still there in April 2012. In the early part od June 2012 the new formed AFC Rushden and Diamonds announced him as one of their first signings.

Apps 5 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 26/06/12

Nathan McDonald

A eighteen year goalkeeper  (b 16/05/91) signed in March 2010 as cover. He previously played for Southend United as a youth team player before joining Braintree Town from where he signed for AFC on a dual registration and made his debut on April 5th 2010. At the start of the 2010/11 season he was still with Braintree and in December 2010 he was a first team regular. He won promotion to the Conference with them at the end of April 2011, and in June 2011 signed a new contract with the club. On 25th August 2011 he was included in an England C international squad. He remained with the club through season 2011/12 and was there at the end of April 2012. He started the 2012/13 season still with the Cressing Road side but was unable to get a first team starting place and on 27th November 2012 went on loan to Billericay Town. This was terminated on 23rd December 2012 when he returned to Braintree.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 24/12/12

Will Morris
A tall defender, he joined the club to play reserve football at the start of the 2003/04 season and stayed for part of 2004/05 when he played one Eastern Floodlight League game. He left in January 2005 to join Hadleigh United, he later went to Walsham le Willows in 2005/06 and in 2006/07 was with Halstead Town. In September 2008 he was playing for Witham Town, but on 28th March 2009 he signed again for AFC’s reserve side. He played only one game and then disappeared again.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 19/09/11

Mark Morsley

He began his football career with Mistley United in the Essex and Suffolk Border League and became both manager and secretary during his time with the club. He left to join Harwich and Parkeston and became their reserve team manager, before becoming assistant first team boss. Joined Needham Market in October 2003 and was appointed first team manager, he guided them from the Ridgeons First Division to the Premier and also won the Suffolk Senior Cup. In season 2005/06 he took Needham to sixth place in the Premier Division and also on a good FA Vase run. At the end of the season he applied successfully for the vacancy as AFC Sudbury manager, thus becoming the club’s third manager since their formation. In the 2006/07 season he guided them to fifth place and into the play offs, the semi-final was won but the team lost out on penalties in the final to Harlow Town. He was still manager at the start of the 2007/08 season, and the club finished runners up in the League, but lost in the play off semi-final and were also losing finalists in the League Cup. He agreed to continue for season 2008/09 in March 2008. On 7th May 2008 he announced that he had resigned as manager of the club. This was after talks with the board asking for a budget that he thought would make the 2008/09 side competitive was turned down. On 7th June 2008 he was appointed as CEO at newly promoted Brantham Athletic. They announced on 28th October 2008 that he had left the club, and on 30th October he was unveiled as manager of Harwich and Parkeston. On 7th May 2009 he resigned from the job stating disagreement at the way the club was going forward. On 20th May he announced that he had returned to Needham Market to help manager Danny Laws. Season 2009/10 saw the club complete a league and cup double. On 4th May 2010 he was unveiled as the manager of Leiston, and was still there in April 2011 when they won the Ridgeons League and promotion. In May 2011 he had agreed to stay for season 2011/12, and with the team top of the table won the Manager of the Month award in December 2011. He won promotion with the club to the Ryman Premier League at the end of the 2011/12 season, and remained in charge for the 2012/13 season. With Leiston in mid-table in the Ryman Premier League on 1st February 2013 he resigned as their manager stating he had taken them as far as he felt possible. On 6th February 2013 Needham Market announced that he had agreed a four year contract to become their manager again from the start of the 2013/14 season and in the interim period he would be at the club preparing for the role. On 23rd March 2013 he was put in immediate control of team affairs at Bloomfields.

Games 114 Won 60 Lost 30 Drawn 24
Updated 23/03/13

Nathan Munson
‘Munno’ a goalkeeper (b 10/11/74), he played for Colchester United where he was a professional for two seasons (2 apps 92/94) and also at a number of Essex clubs such as Billericay Town, Wivenhoe Town, Stanway Rovers and Harwich & Parkeston. He joined Needham Market in season 2005/06 but followed manager Mark Morsley to King’s Marsh for the 2006/07 season. On 12th March 2007 he signed a contract to stay with the club until the end of the 2007/08 season. However on 15th November 2007 it was announced that he was retiring from playing but would take over as the club’s goalkeeping coach from David Hunt. He however had to play in a number of games, including the Ryman League Cup Final due to Dean Neil being cup tied. On 11th April 2008 Neil was released and ‘Munno’ returned between the sticks until the end of the season when he left. In the middle of July 2008 he joined Brantham Athletic, but left in October to join Mark Morsley at Harwich and Parkeston. He however returned to Brantham at the start of the 2009/10 season in a player coach role, he remained there throughout the season. In July 2010 he remained with Brantham for the 2010/11 season. In May 2011 it was announced he was to join up again with Morsley this time at Leiston. On 10th September 2011 he started a league game for the club. He remained with the club throughout the 2011/12 season winning promotion with them, and returned for the 2012/13 season mainly as a goalkeeping coach but playing when called upon. On 25th March 2013 he had rejoined Needham Market when Mark Morsley took over as manager again, becoming part of the coaching set-up.

Apps 92 Subs 10 Goals 0

Updated 26/03/13

Dean Neil
A goalkeeper nicknamed ‘The Monk’, signed from Wivenhoe Town on 15th November 2007 as a replacement for Nathan Munson. An experienced player who having started his career with Charlton Athletic, went onto to play for Tonbridge Angels, Harlow Town and Tilbury. He represented England Schoolboys in his younger days, was also a boxer and undefeated in 36 fights. He was released by the club on 11th April 2008, due to work commitments. At the start of the 2008/09 season he was playing for Billericay Town and Bowers & Pitsea United. He was re-signed on 22nd November 2008 to play in an FA Trophy game the next day but called off on the eve of the game and did not play. In January 2009 he had formed his own company Pro-Tek selling his own design of goalkeeping gloves and providing coaching. In the second half of 2009/10 season was first team goalkeeper coach at Football League Division Two play-off winners Dagenham and Redbridge. He also worked at the Arsenal school of excellence during the 2009/10 season. He studied goalkeeping in Italy, Spain and Slovenia and then started his own goalkeeping academy Pro 1 in Basildon, Billericay and Southend. On 12th January 2013 he was playing in goal for Redbridge. In April 2013 he continued with his playing career and goalkeeping coaching as well as going abroad to scout goalkeepers. In his coaching he was being assisted by another ex-AFC player Paul Smith.

Apps 19 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 28/04/13

Luke Nicoll

A sixteen year old  (b 23/06/95) from the AFC Grassroots, he trained with the first team pre-season 2011/12 and made his first team debut in a pre-season friendly at Witham Town on 16th July 2011. He had previously been with Ipswich Town in their youth system, and signed for the club’s reserve side at the start of the 2011/12 season. He was on the bench for several first team games before making his full debut on 19th November 2011 away at Ware. In February 2012 he was promoted to the first team squad. At the start of the 2012/13 he had decided to take time out from football to concentrate on his studies.

Tommy Noble

A striker (b 17/05/77) previously with Clacton Town, Stanway Rovers, Maldon Town and Braintree Town before rejoining Maldon from where he was signed by AFC on 15th August 2005. He made his debut on 21st August at Newmarket and scored, and at the end of the season won the leading Goal Scorer award. Played throughout the 2005/06 season and was retained for the 2006/07 season. On 12th January 2007 he agreed an extension of his contract to the end of the 2007/08 season. He started pre-season 2007/08 and suffered an injury and was then unavailable for the first game of the season on 18th August 2007. On 20th August the club accepted an offer from Tiptree United and he was transferred to them. He remained with them until the end of the season winning promotion. He signed for them again in season 2008/09. On 3rd September 2008 their website announced that he had decided to retire from football, however he played on 4th October and scored. FC Clacton announced on 7th November 2008 he had signed once again for them. He was still there at the start of the 2009/10 season but his appearances were very limited. He did play in April 2010 and scored. In February 2011 he made two appearances for Whitton United but was injured. He was recalled to their squad for the Suffolk Senior Cup final at Portman Road Ipswich on 4th April 2011. Appeared to have retired from football but continued his sporting prowess doing mud running in 2012. On 27th July 2012 he played for Wivenhoe Town Vets and scored a goal. On 11th August he was sent off whilst playing for Wormingford Wanderers. On 17th March 2013 he completed the Colchester Half Marathon in a time under two hours in preparation for the London Marathon in April.

Apps 80 Subs 4 Goals 30

Updated 17/03/2013

Lee Norfolk
A New Zealand born midfielder (b 17/11/75), he represented his country in 1991 at junior level before coming to this country. He was the first Kiwi to play in the Premiership when he played four games for Ipswich Town. He went onto play for King’s Lynn, Cambridge City, North Shore United and Bishops Stortford before joining Sudbury Wanderers and then AFC. A great taker of free kicks from just outside the penalty area. Played for the following four seasons before leaving the club at the end of the 2004/05 season. ‘Norths’ played in all three losing FA Vase finals. In early June 2005 he signed for Halstead Town, his stay however was a short on as on 30th September 2005 he signed for Needham Market. He stayed there throughout the 2005/06 season but at the start of 2006/07 he signed again for Halstead Town in the role of player/coach, they were relegated at the end of the season. At the start of the 2007/08 season he signed for Ridgeons Division One side Diss Town, but on 22nd November 2007 he was reported as having been released by the club. In December 2007 he was helping out Essex Senior League side Burnham Ramblers. At the start of the 2008/09 season he had joined Stanway Rovers, he was injured midway through but came back at the end to score the winning penalty in the Ridgeons League Cup Final. On 18th July 2009 he was captain of Felixstowe and Walton United, but then played spasmodically for them until the end of the season. On 19th June 2010 he was appointed player-coach at Leiston, and was still with them in April 2011 when they won the league and promotion. In May 2011 he had signed a two year contract to stay in position with Leiston and was still there on in May 2012 winning promotion with them. He was still there in August 2012, and on 1st February 2013 he took over as caretaker manager of Leiston following the resignation of Mark Morsley. On 25th March 2013 he had left Leiston and joined up again with Morsley at Needham Market as part of the coaching set-up.

Apps 268 Subs 21 Goals 55
Updated 26/03/2013

Ben Nower
A goalkeeper (b 28/03/81) signed from King’s Lynn in September 2000, he then only missed one game until promotion at work meant he could not play regularly on Saturdays. He made 98 consecutive appearances, a club record. Was First Team Players Player of the Year 2001/02. Late in October 2003 he signed on again hoping to play should his work allow or in an injury crisis. In December 2003 he was on the bench after changing his occupation. Stayed with the club throughout 2004/05 although his first team chances were limited, but performed brilliantly for the reserve side. He was in the 2004/05 F.A. Vase squad, but left at the end of the season to join Mildenhall Town. He won the Reserves Manager of the Year Award in 2004/05. He played at Mildenhall through the 2005/06 season and was still there at the start of the 2006/07 season. On 9th February 2007 he signed a two-year contract extension with the Recway club. After a serious knee injury that required an operation he went on a months loan to Diss Town on 15th October 2008. On 5th November Mildenhall placed him on the transfer list, and on 15th November he had joined Felixstowe and Walton United. On 9th June 2009, Norwich United announced they had signed him for the 2009/10 season, and he played throughout the season. He was still with the Norfolk club at the end of season 2010/11 and started the 2011/12 campaign with them and remained there in April 2012. He started the 2012/13 season once again at Plantation Park.

Apps 164 Subs 31 Goals 0
Updated 05/08/12

Graeme Oakes
A young midfield player, who played Border League football for the club, was called upon twice in season 2001/02. A good local cricketer his football career was cut short with a back injury. In July 2007 he was playing cricket for Sudbury Cricket Club and was again in June 2008. He married in June 2010 and was still playing cricket at Sudbury. In August 2012 he had stopped playing cricket and taken up cycling as a hobby.

Apps 2 Subs 1 Goals 0
Updated 05/08/12

Afolabi Obafemi

A young forward (b 25/11/94) signed on work experience forms from Leyton Orient on 30th March 2012, he made his debut on 7th April at Harlow Town as a substitute. He was previously on the books of Watford FC. He made his Football League debut for Orient in their last game of the 2011/12 season against Rochdale on 5th May 2012. He played pre-season once again for Leyton Orient, however on 25th August he went on loan to Bishop’s Stortford and scored on his debut. On 23rd September 2012 he was back with Orient scoring for their youth team.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 24/09/12

Joe O’ Donoghue

A young defender,  (b 19/11/93) and  youth team player from Leyton Orient signed on work experience forms on 30th March 2012. He made his debut the following week against Harlow Town before returning to the Football League club at the end of the season. He was released by Orient at the end of the 2011/12 season. At the start of the 2012/13 season he joined and played for Chesham United until the middle of August 2012. On 15th September 2012 he had signed and played for Harlow Town.

Apps 4 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 24/09/12

Dubi Ogbonna
A fast raiding Nigerian born striker  (b 15/11/91) he started with Histon before joining Cambridge United then went to Southend United. From there he returned to Histon where he attracted attention from both Celtic and Aberdeen where he had trials. He left Histon towards the end of January 2011 and on 30th January signed for the club. He scored the winning goal on his debut on 5th February 2011, but played only twice more before signing for King’s Lynn Town on 20th February 2011. He scored a goal on his debut with them but soon became disenchanted and on 26th March failed to turn up for a reserve game. On 31st March he was released by the Norfolk club. He returned to AFC on 16th April 2011 and scored two goals in a game that day. On 4th July 2011 he was training with Cambridge City and signed and played for them at the . He was released by the club on 16th September 2011 and signed once again for AFC the same day. He played only two games, failed to appear on 1st October and was released. On 11th October 2011 he signed again for Soham Town Rangers and played that evening and was booked, he was still there in April 2012. On 5th July 2012 he was announced as a new signing for Wisbech Town and he played there and was their leading scorer when he was released on 4th February 2013. On 11th February St Neots Town announced that they had signed him, however in the first week of April 2013 he had signed and played for Holbeach United.

Apps 7 Subs 0 Goals 3
Updated 10/04/13

Lee Owen
A local boy he was with Peterborough United youths before returning and joining up with Sudbury Town. Went to Cambridge City and was loaned out to Ipswich Wanderers and Bury Town. The midfielder joined Braintree Town from where he came to AFC in March 2000. He played for the club continuously until the end of the 2005/06 season, when the new manager decided that he would not require his services. He left and at the start of the 2006/07 season and signed for Ipswich Wanderers. In pre-season, 2007/08 he played for Tiptree United, and then signed for them. He remained there throughout, winning promotion at the end of it and was there again at the start of the 2008/09 campaign, but suffered a bad pre-season ankle injury. His first game back was in the middle of March 2009, and he remained with the Essex club for season 2009/10, but left in October 2009 when the club went to Maldon. In February 2010 he was helping to coach Sudbury Athletic, and in March he was playing for them. At the start of July 2010 he had signed for the 2010/11 season at Hadleigh United, but in September 2010 he was reported to have stopped playing. On 25th January he appeared as a substitute once again for Sudbury Athletic. In May 2011 he announced his playing career was probably over due to a persistent ankle injury, however in August 2011 he was still turning out for Athletic. On 24th July 2012 he appeared in a pre-season game for Saffron Walden Town and started the 2012/13 season with them. On 7th December 2012 he signed for AFC’s reserve side.

Apps 289 Subs 20 Goals 92
Updated 08/12/12

Wayne Pannell
An ex-Halstead Town player this experienced front runner signed in February 2003 from Stowmarket Town to play in the club’s reserve side but was needed when many first teamers were rested in an East Anglian Cup tie at Long Melford. At the end of season 2002/03 returned to Stowmarket Town. In August 2004 he was playing for Needham Market, later that season he went to Debenham LC where he was playing in season 2005/06. In January 2007 he was playing for Capel Plough in the SIL and was still there in August 2007. He went to play later on for Old Newton. In April 2011 he played a few games for Cornard United and he was playing for the Blackhouse Lane club again on 24th September 2011. In October 2011 he was appointed as player/assistant manager alongside Chris Symes. He was still with the club and played against AFC on 10th July 2012 and then played in the league for Cornard. On 17th November he was playing for Capel Plough again.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 18/11/12

Sam Parkinson
A young left back or left sided player he signed for AFC on 27th March 2009 from Cambridge United, where he also played for CRC. He had previously played as a younger player for Leicester City, made his AFC debut on 28th March 2009. On 12th May 2009 he signed again for season 2009/10. He started the season but on 8th December 2009 he was released. On 19th July 2010 he was playing as a ‘triallist’ for Soham Town Rangers, but in September 2010 he was playing for Ely City and was still there in April 2011. He started the 2011/12 season, and was still with the fenland club in May 2012. On 18th August 2012 he was till playing for ‘The Robins” and was still there in April 2013.

Apps 25 Subs 3 Goals 0
Updated 28/04/13

Ben Patrick

A young fast forward player, he started off at Sudbury Town before switching to Sudbury Wanderers just prior to amalgamation. Showed promise but did not make an appearance until coming on as a sub in February 2000. His appearances were of a limited nature. At the start of season 2003/04 he was included in the first team squad. There was no sign of him at the club at the start of season 2004/05. On 16th October 2004 he made his first appearance for Sudbury Athletic. At the start of season 2005/06 he was back at King’s Marsh signing for the reserve side, but his appearances were very limited. He was not playing at the start of the 2006/07 season. In December 2007 he was turning out in Sunday football for Boxford Rovers. October 2008 saw him playing Saturday football for the same club, and he remained there in 2009/10. He was with Rovers throughout the 2010/11 season and started the 2011/12 campaign with them.

Apps 7 Subs 9 Goals 4

Updated 19/09/11

Adrian Pettigrew

A central defender (b 12/11/86 in Hackney) he joined the Chelsea Academy in 1999 and signed professionally with them in March 2005 and played for both their youth and reserve teams. During his time there he represented England at under16 (when 14) and under17 (when 15) levels.
On 2nd March 2007 he signed for Wycombe Wanderers on loan initially until the end of the 2006–07 season, but returned early to the London club in April, 2007, having played just 45 minutes of first-team football. On 7th August 2007 he played in a pre-season game for Luton Town. On 10th August 2007 he joined Brentford on an initial one-month loan deal, which was later extended to run until 11th November 2007 making thirteen appearances for them. He returned to Stamford Bridge and on 30th January 2008, he joined Rotherham United on loan for the rest of the 2007/08 season, but returned to Chelsea at the end of March having made four appearances for the Millmoor club.
In early May 2008 he had a trial with Belgium side Zulte Waregem before Chelsea decided to release him at the end of the 2007/08 season. In July 2008 he rejected the chance to join the Belgium club. In January 2009 he had a trial with Greek side AEK Athens before returning to England and playing one game for Cheshunt. On 23rd January 2009 he transferred to Bishop’s Stortford and on 20th February signed for AFC and made his debut the next day. He did not play for the club again.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 19/09/11

John Pollard

He was 34 years old (b 17/11/71) when he signed at the end of the 2004/05 season for AFC from Heybridge Swifts where he was their record appearance holder. He started his career with Colchester United and played for Bury Town for a short time. He played for St Albans City for a couple of seasons before returning to Heybridge. A central defender or a defensive midfielder, he played a limited number of games in 2005/06 at AFC due to picking up several injuries. He was appointed Vice-Captain of the club by the new manager at the start of 2006/07. He started the season well but on 12th January 2007 was released by mutual consent from his contract. On 29th January he signed for Ridgeons First Division side Tiptree United, where he stayed until 27th March when he joined Halstead Town in the Ridgeons Premier Division. He however could not stop them being relegated, but towards the end of July 2007 was appointed assistant manager. ‘Polly’ was still there at the start of the 2008/09 campaign and played throughout it. He continued at Rosemary Lane at the start of the 2009/10 season, however in October 2009 he left due to changes in his domestic situation.

Apps 50 Subs 9 Goals 4

Updated 30/10/10

Russell Pond

A midfield player, (b 21/01/87) he started his footballing career as a youth with Leyton Orient before joining up with Colchester United in February 2003. He became an apprentice with them having loan spells with both Wivenhoe Town and Heybridge Swifts in October 2005, and the latter again in December 2005 and October 2006.  He later signed full time for the Essex club. At the start of the 2009/10 season he joined Billericay Town and was their PYO for that season. In August 2010 he was playing for Concord Rangers but in January 2011 he signed again for Heybridge Swifts. He remained with them at the start of the 2011/12 season, but he joined AFC on 2^nd March 2012 and played until the end of the season in May 2012. He returned for the 2012/13 season and played until the last week of March 2013 when elbow injuries seemingly ruled him out for the remainder of the season, however he played in the final game of the season on 27th April 2013.

Apps   Subs  Goals

Updated 28/04/13

Matt Pooley

A defender/midfielder (b 15/11/92) he started in the Dagenham and Redbridge youth set up in July 2009. He signed for Braintree Town on 1st July 2011 before in March 2012 having a short loan spell at Walton and Hersham. He left Braintree at the start of the 2012/13 season joining Cray Wanderers until 16th October when he went to Thurrock. He joined AFC from there on 16th November 2012  and played his only game for the club the next day. He was released on 23rd November 2012 but the following week signed for East Thurrock United. During the second week of January 2013 he left and signed once again for Cray Wanderers.

Apps 1  Subs 0  Goals 0

Updated 14/01/13

Darren Pratt
He had been with Sudbury Town and joined AFC at the start but after a few weeks became disillusioned and left in November 1999 to join Cornard United. He however rejoined the club in March 2000 but never played another first team game. Went onto become player manager at Long Melford and remained there until the end of the 2003/04 season when he announced he would not be continuing with the job. In June 2004 however he changed his mind and decided to stay on until the end of the season when he stepped down to concentrate on business projects. At the start of the 2005/06 season he signed for AFC once again, this time to play reserve football. He played through the season and was part of the winning Suffolk Junior Cup winning side in April 2006 at Portman Road. At the end of the season he won the Reserve Team Manager’s Player of the Year award. He was signed again at the start of the 2006/07 season and played for the reserves throughout the season, the final few games in goal. On 15th August 2007 Long Melford announced he had signed once again for them, however on 8th November 2007 they stated he had retired due to a knee injury. On 28th December he came back and played yet again against Cornard United, but did not play again. He re-appeared for Sudbury Athletic Reserves on 17th January 2009 scoring twice. In May and June 2010 he completed a charity cycle ride from Serbia to Sudbury along with Gary Harvey. On 9th October 2010 he scored a hat trick playing once again for Sudbury Athletic. In the middle of September 2012 he was a member of Sudbury Cycle Club and taking part in road time trials.

Apps 2 Subs 2 Goals 0
Updated 23/09/12

Matt Proctor
He was an associate schoolboy with Norwich City as a youngster. A left back, (b 04/10/72) he was with Stowmarket Town but joined AFC at the beginning, he spent most of the next season injured playing only a handful of games. He left and joined Wroxham in season 2001/02 came back to the club from Stowmarket in September 2002 to help out the second team. At the start of season 2003/04 joined Cornard United as player/coach and was still there at the start of 2004/05. In January 2005 decided to retire. In February 2005 he started to referee local football, and he received some good marks and quickly made progress. On 16th January 2007 he emigrated to Australia with his family, where he continued his refereeing career. In May 2008 he joined the Police service in ‘Oz’, and was still there in June 2012. He celebrated his fortieth birthday in October 2012.

Apps 62 Subs 4 Goals 0
Updated 12/10/12

Lee Rayner

The brother of Terry he came to the club in October 2004 as a reserve team player but played in a couple of Eastern Floodlight games in season 2004/05. He continued with the club in 2005/06 and was part of the winning Suffolk Junior Cup side in April 2006. He remained with the club in 2006/07 and played throughout it, and returned at the start of the 2007/08 season. At the beginning of the 2008/09 season he returned once again to King’s Marsh and played for the reserve side throughout it. The 2009/10 season saw him still with the club and he returned again in August 2010 for the 2010/11 season. Towards the end of December 2010 he left and went to play for Earls Colne.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 21/02/11

Terry Rayner
A livewire right sided player (b 10/04/79) who liked to get forward, signed from Heybridge Swifts in 1999, previously with Halstead Town, Harwich & Parkeston, and Braintree Town. He won the Supporters Player of the Year in season 2001/02. Scorer of AFC’s goal in the Vase final of 2002/03, he decided not to sign for season 2003/04 and joined Maldon Town. On 25th February 2004 he was re-signed from Maldon for an undisclosed fee. He played through 2004/05 and 2005/06 appearing in two further Vase finals. ‘El Tel’ was re-signed for season 2006/07. On 9th February 2007 he agreed a contract extension at the club until the end of the 2007/08 season. A knee injury saw him have surgery in April 2007, but he returned for pre-season training at the start of 2007/08. He was able to play a few games but more knee problems kept him out and he needed a further knee operation, which he did not have until 27th March. He returned to pre-season training at the start of the 2008/09 season with a testimonial against Bishop’s Stortford arranged. He did appear for this game on 30th July and three days later he announced that he would not be staying with the club. On the opening day of the season he was playing for Felixstowe and Walton United, however on 11th October he had left and was playing again for Halstead Town. He remained at the Rosemary Lane club at the start of the 2009/10 season and was there until the end of the season. On 17th August 2010 he re-appeared at AFC and played in a reserve friendly. On 21st August he was in the first team squad for the first game of the 2010/11 season. He played only a few games before work became his main priority and was not seen again.

Apps 325 Subs 26 Goals 56
Updated 19/09/11

Glen Revell
A strong experienced player who could play in midfield as well as at the centre of defence he had previously played for both Halstead Town and Witham Town, before joining AFC on 16th October 2008 from Maldon Town. He left the club on 15th December 2008, in February 2009 he was playing for White Notley Football club.

Apps 5 Subs 5 Goals 1

Updated 19/09/11

Jamie Ricks
A 21 year old (b 21/02/87) free scoring forward who had played for a quartet of Essex club’s in both the Ridgeons and Ryman League, these being, Tiptree United, Halstead, Town, Witham Town and Maldon Town. He signed for AFC on the eve of the 2008/09 season, but was released on 10th October 2008, and on 17th October he signed for Tiptree United. The 2009/10 season saw him still with the Chapel Road club, but in October 2009 signed for Maldon Town. In April 2010 he was playing for Stanway Rovers and on 5th July he signed again for the 2010/11 season. On 6th August 2011 he was back playing for Witham Town. On 21st July 2012 he played a pre-season game for Heybridge Swifts.

Apps 10 Subs 0 Goals 1
Updated 22/07/12

Mark Roper
A 19 year old central defender he was with Norwich City in their youth set up before joining the Cambridge City Youth Academy. He was released from there at the end of 2004/05 and signed by AFC. His chances were limited at AFC during 2005/06 and in December 2005 he was loaned to Norwich United. He made the transfer permanent in January 2007 and he stayed there until the end of the season. At the start of season 2006/07 he was playing for Needham Market. In the middle of October 2006 he was transferred to Diss Town, but when a change of manager came in November 2006 he went to Woodbridge Town. He was still at the Notcutts Park club in August 2007 and played throughout the campaign. He stayed with the ‘Woodpeckers’ at the start of the 2008/09 season, however on 22nd November 2008 he had joined Felixstowe and Walton United. In February 2009 he was off travelling the world, but on 8th August was playing for Hadleigh United. At the start of the 2010/11 season he was still with the Millfield club, however on 19th October 2010 he had joined Woodbridge Town again. The 2011/12 season saw him continue with ‘The Woodpeckers” and he was still there in April 2012. On 7th August 2012 he was still playing for Woodbridge Town.

Apps 9 Subs 16 Goals 0
Updated  08/08/12

Tom Ross

A 17 year old forward, he had a short spell with Norwich City before joining Woodbridge Town in 2011. In January 2012 he transferred to Ipswich Wanderers. He signed for AFC on 17th July 2012 and made his competitive debut on 29th September 2012. On 2nd November 2012 he left and signed for Felixstowe and Walton United, however on 23rd November he had left and joined Debenham L.C.

Apps 3 Subs 4 Goals 0

Updated 23/11/12

Alex Rowe
Having been released by Heybridge Swifts this young wide player made an appearance for AFC in a friendly at Stanway Rovers on 14th January 2009. He was on the bench for just one first team game and was then allowed to leave. On 21st February he signed for Maldon Town, but at the start of 2009/10 was back with Heybridge Swifts. In September 2010 he was believed to be at Leeds University.

Apps 0 Subs 1 Goals 0

Updated 19/09/11

James Rowe
‘Rowey’, a fast raiding forward, played for a number of teams before joining AFC he was with Histon, Heybridge Swifts, Stamford and Grantham Town before returning to Histon from where he went to Needham Market in season 2005/06. At the start of the 2006/07 he joined AFC along with new manager Mark Morsley. He is the son of former Sudbury Town winger Colwyn Rowe. On 15th January 2007 he signed a contract extension until the end of season 2007/08 and was also made club vice-captain. On 11th November 2007 he was placed on the transfer list after a bust up, but five days later he issued a public apology and was back in the fold. He was the winner of the Supporters Player of the Year for 2007/08 and the First Team Top Scorer Award. After a lot of negotiations, on 8th July 2008, he decided his future was still at the club in 2008/09. He played but on 1st December 2008 he was placed on the transfer list. On 31st December 2008 he joined Leiston on an eighteen month contract, however on 18th July 2009 he had signed a one year deal with Canvey Island. Towards the end of the 2009/10 season he had two week trial with Southend United. At the start of the 2010/11 he was still with the Islanders, but in September 2010 he was released from his contract. He had a job with Birmingham City’s youth set up and was living in the area and joined Leamington FC and played with them until the end of the 2010/11 season. He did not re-sign for them at the start of the 2011/12 season being too busy with his Birmingham City position. On 18th September 2012 he achieved the UEFA A coaching qualification. Canvey Island announced on 10th February 2013 that he had re-joined them having left Birmingham City to take up a position working for The Premier League.

Apps 105 Subs 4 Goals 60

Updated 10/02/13

Paul Rutherford
A goalkeeper (b 12/11/84), ‘Ruthers’ signed from Heybridge Swifts at the end of the 2004/05 season. He played for Norwich City, Colchester United and Tottenham Hotspur as a youth player. Was with Braintree Town before a loan spell at Wroxham followed, he was then transferred to Heybridge Swifts. He played for AFC throughout the 2005/06 season, but was released at the end of it by the new manager. At the start of 2006/07 he signed for Halstead Town and won their Player of the Season award at the end of it. He remained there for the 2007/08 season, but in early June 2008 he signed once again for Braintree Town. On 28th August he was signed by Wivenhoe Town, but on 27th November 2008 joined Tiptree United. He remained with the Essex club for 2009/10, but in October 2009 signed for Maldon Town. In July 2010 he was in goal for Halstead Town in a pre-season game. On August 5th 2010  FC Clacton announced that he had signed for them. He played throughout the 2010/11 season, and at the end of it was a triple award winner with the Supporters, Players, and Managers Player of the Year. He was made the Essex club’s Captain for season 2011/12, however on 28th July 2011 he announced that he had left the club. On 6th August he was playing for Stanway Rovers and was still there in April 2012. He was still with The Hawthorns club in July 2012 when he played against AFC in a pre-season game and he played throughout the 2012/13 season. On 19th April he agreed to stay Stanway for the 2013/14 season.

Apps 55 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 19/04/13

Matt Ryland
A 17 year old (b 12/11/85) from Somersham, who was included in the first team squad for season 2003/04. A nippy left sided wide player who made his debut on 16th September 2003 as a substitute at home to Soham. He made two further substitute appearances before leaving in July 2004 for Stowmarket Town. In June 2005 he signed for Leiston, and he played there until the start of the 2006/07 season when he left to join Diss Town. On October 26th 2006 he returned to Leiston and was still there in July 2007, but in August 2007 he returned to Stowmarket. In the middle of January 2008 he signed for Diss Town. At the end of the season he signed for Mildenhall Town, but on 7th December 2008 it was announced that he had left the club. In January 2009 he was playing for Grundisburgh. At the start of the 2009/10 season he had joined Felixstowe and Walton United, but in September 2009 was playing again at Grundisburgh. In October 2009 he played again for Felixstowe and was still with them in January 2011. At the end of the season he won the Supporters, Managers and Player Player of the Year Awards. On 9th August 2011 he captained ‘The Seasiders’ against AFC, and played throughout the 2011/12 season. At the end of it he won the Henry Page Award for services to the club. On 20th June 2012 Brantham Athletic announced that he had signed for them for the 2012/13 season, and he played for them on 4th August 2012.

Apps 3 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 05/08/12

Perry Sansford
An eighteen year old  (b 22/09/90) forward signed at the start of the 2009/10 season from Colchester United having been released by them. He played five Ryman League Premier Division games for Heybridge Swifts during the 2008/09 season while on work experience from Colchester United, scoring two goals. On 7th January 2010 he was released without scoring, and on 12th January joined Heybridge Swifts again. They announced on 21st May that he was going to study in the USA, where he went to Cloud Community College, Concordia, Wisconsin and played for the T Birds soccer squad. However in 2012 he was playing for ‘The Drovers’ the team of The University of Science and Arts in Chickasha Oaklahoma. His brother Peter who played for AFC Reserves was also there.

Apps 13 Subs 9 Goals 0

Updated 10/04/12

Wayne Saunders
A midfield player (b 6/10/85) he joined AFC at the start of the 2009/10 season having spent the majority of his footballing career with Halstead Town. He made his debut as a substitute against Arlesey Town on 13th October 2009. He was still with AFC in July 2010, but just prior to the start the season he decided to leave and re-joined Halstead Town, however on 22nd October 2010 he returned to AFC. On 2nd January 2011 he signed for FC Clacton and played for them the following day. He was still with the Rush Green Bowl club in early July 2011, however on 22nd he was reported to have signed for Brightlingsea Regent. In October 2011 he was playing for Heybridge Swifts Reserves, however in February 2012 he was back with the Brightlingsea club.  At the start of the 2012/13 season he played against AFC in pre-season for Earls Colne.

Apps 6 Subs  Goals 0
Updated 22/07/12

Gary Setchell
A central defender (b 8/05/75) signed from Kings Lynn at the start of the 2005/06 season. The Norfolk club was where he started his career before going to Fakenham Town, then back to Kings Lynn before joining Kettering Town and went to the F.A. Trophy Final with them. He progressed to Rushden and Diamonds joining on 21st August 2000 where he helped them to Division Two of the Football League via the play-offs at the Millennium Stadium (77 apps 3 goals). He left there on 8th March 2003. Tamworth was the next stop before re-signing for Kings Lynn in December 2003. He played for AFC throughout the 2005/06 season, before being released by the new manager at the end of it. He joined Swaffham Town in the Ridgeons First Division at the start of the 2006/07 season, and gained promotion with them in that season. In November 2007 he was still with the Norfolk club. The club were relegated at the end of 2007/08 and on 21st May he was appointed joint manager for 2008/09. On 17th November 2008 he was named as manager until the end of the season as the first team manager resigned. At the beginning of May 2009 he was appointed manager for 2009/10. On 18th January 2010 it was announced that he had left Wisbech to be the joint manager of the newly formed King’s Lynn Town FC. He was with them throughout the 2010/11 season and remained there at the start of the 2011/12 season. At the end of both seasons the club finished runners up in the UCL but gained promotion in May 2012. He remained manager of the Norfolk club at the start of the 2012/13 season and on 30th April 2013 he guided his side to promotion once again, this time winning the Evo Stick Division One South.

Apps 44 Subs 5 Goals 1

Updated 30/04/13

Paul Shave
A central midfield player, he liked to get fully involved in games. He previously played for Maldon Town, Billericay Town, AFC Hornchurch, London ASPA and Aveley, signed for AFC on 27th January 2009. He played only two games before on 19th February Billericay re-signed him and he never played for AFC again. On 19th May 2009 he was retained by Billericay for the 2009/10 season, but by July 2009 he had re-signed for AFC Hornchurch. On 6th January 2010 Tilbury announced he had signed for them, but on 26th February he transferred to Concord Rangers. At the start of the 2010/11 season he had returned to AFC Hornchurch, but on 2nd September 2010 he transferred to Harlow Town. Maldon and Tiptree was his next stop, signing for them on 5th October 2010. He started the 2011/12 season again with Billericay Town but on 22nd September 2011 he re-signed for Aveley. His stay was short as on 20th October 2011 he was back at Maldon and Tiptree, however on 21st November he had gone back to Aveley and was still there on 25th February 2012. In August 2012 he had signed for Basildon United, and also playing for the charity side Essex FC. On 22nd of September 2012 he played for Redbridge and scored a goal. On 2nd March 2013 he was playing again for Basildon United.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 1
Updated

Michael Shinn
A central midfield player (b 15/12/84), he started with Haverhill United and was then with Ipswich Town as a youngster between the ages of nine and twelve and then went to play for Newmarket Gunners. He then joined Cambridge City for a season before going to Cambridge United playing in their under 17′s in 2000. He was offered a three year scholarship with the club in March 2001. In  season 2002/03 he went to St Albans 2003/04 (5 apps), Cambridge City 2003/04  (2 apps), before joining Heybridge Swifts at the start of the 2004/05 season and then went to Braintree Town for a fee of £1500 in December 2007, before joining Billericay Town (27 apps) in season 2009/10 from where he joined Dartford in March 2010. He made 30 appearances for the ‘Darts’ playing before signing for AFC on 17th January 2011. In May 2011 he signed again for the 2011/12 season playing throughout it ending in May 2012 when he won the Managers Player of the Year Award. He remained with the club at the start of the 2012/13 season, and on 6th October 2012 was named as the assistant manager. On 13th March 2013 when Chris Tracey resigned he along with Ian Brown was put in charge of team affairs until further notice. In the early part of April 2013 he signed an extension to his playing contract keeping himat the club until the ened of the 2013/14 season.

Apps   Subs   Goals

Updated 28/04/13

Danny Shipton
A former Colchester United trainee, who was either a left sided defender or midfield player, he signed for AFC at the start of the 2008/09 season. He had previously played for a number of clubs including, Braintree Town, Halstead Town, Mildenhall Town and Long Melford on loan and Witham Town. On 13th October 2008 he was released and became the assistant manager of Braintree Town Reserves. In the middle of July 2009 he had signed as a player for Haverhill Rovers, but in September 2010 he was playing for Halstead Town. Long Melford captured his signature on 26th November 2010 and he was still with them in March 2011. On 14th May 2011 he was announced as their player coach for the 2011/12 season and was still there in April 2012, playing in the Suffolk Senior Cup Final. He had left the club at the start of the 2012/13 season on 4th August 2012. On 11th October 2012 he signed once again for AFC, however by 30th November he had departed once more.

Apps 9 Subs 9 Goals 0
Updated 01/12/12

Barry Simpson
He was a tall central defender (b 28/09/74) who signed at the start of season 2002/03 from Long Melford to play in the reserves, having previously been with Cornard United and Sudbury Athletic. He played a couple of games in goal for the second team and when an East Anglian Cup tie came at Long Melford in February 2003 took the keeper’s jersey for this first team fixture and played in the Final of the Eastern Floodlight League in pre-season 2004/05 against Concord Rangers. He played for the club in season 2005/06 although his appearances were limited by a knee injury. An operation on the knee was done in January 2006 and he made a comeback as a substitute for a few minutes at Stanway Rovers in April 2006. He signed again for the club at the start of 2006/07 and was intent as playing as a goalkeeper. On 17th October 2006 he went to watch a Suffolk Premier Cup tie at Needham Market arriving ten minutes before kick off and as another goalkeeper had failed to arrive was hastily kitted out and he ended up making first team debut. He suffered a foot injury later in the season and this kept him out of the game. In September 2007 he returned to football as a central defender with Glemsford and Cavendish. He remained with the club in season 2008/09 and was assistant manager of the reserve side. He returned to the club on 24th June 2009 when he was appointed as coach to the reserve side. On 17th March 2010 he was informed that his services were no longer required, and from then until the end of the season turned out again for Glemsford and Cavendish. He was not playing in November 2010 and in September 2011 had taken up cycling as a hobby.

Apps 4 Subs 7 Goals 0

Updated 19/09/11

Gareth Simpson
On 4th January 2008, this midfield player was signed for AFC from Mildenhall Town, where he was the club captain. Unsurprisingly had the nickname of ‘Simmo’, (b 17/02/80). He spent time with Norwich City and Gillingham and previously played for, Cambridge City and Diss Town before joining Mildenhall in July 2004 for a second spell with them. He left at the end of the 2007/08 season and on 2nd August 2008 had signed for Wivenhoe Town. On 18th November 2008 after a change of manager he re-joined Mildenhall Town. On 22nd March 2009 he had been appointed temporary joint manager of the club following the manager’s resignation. On 2nd June 2009 he was reported to have agreed to join Wroxham for the 2009/10 season which he did and went to the FA Vase Final with the club. At the start of the 2010/11 season he was reported to have joined Norwich United and was there in November 2010.

Apps 23 Subs 0 Goals 1
Updated 2/12/10

Robert Sims
A stalwart central defender (b 15/05/66)  he started with Cornard Reserves and then Sudbury Wanderers playing over 500 games, ‘Flipper’ joined the club on amalgamation in June 1999. He was awarded a testimonial and shared a game against West Ham with Chris Tracey at the start of season 2000/01. Bad knees and a number of operations saw his career come finish at the end of that season, but answered an emergency call and played an FA Cup game against Aylesbury in season 2001/02. In 2003 he became a parish councillor in Great Cornard, he was re-elected in May 2007. He was still holding that position in September 2008. During season 2008/09 he was coach to the Cornard Dynamos under 15 side. In December 2009 he was still with the Dynamos at under16 level. In March 2012 he had stopped his football involvement and was playing more golf.

Apps 47 Subs 11 Goals 6

Updated 24/04/12

Taylor Sinfield
A defender (b 9/10/90), he started his football career with Charlton Athletic where he had seven years, the last two on a scholarship before being released at the end of the 2008/9 season. Prior to this he had a trial with Southend United and had a loan spell with Maidstone United before joining Concord Rangers. He then had a short spell with Chelmsford City before returning to Concord at the start of the 2010/11 season from where AFC signed him on 8th October 2010. He played for the remainder of the season, but then his employment as a football coach with Tottenham Hotspur took over and he he did not return at the start of the 2011/12 season. He left his position with Tottenham at the end of the 2011/12 season. At the start of the 2012/13 season, July 2012 he was playing pre-season for Concord Rangers, however on 18th August he had signed and played for Redbridge. He re-signed for AFC on 13th October 2012 and stayed until early January 2013 when he was released.

Apps 25 Subs 2 Goals 0

Updated 25/01/13

Ashley Skeggs
This midfield youngster was only 16 years old when he was named as a substitute against Lowestoft Town in a SPC tie on 21st March 2006. He did not get on. He re-signed for the club in 2006/07. He was again an unused substitute in October 2006, but he did make his first team appearance as a second half substitute at Staines Town in the Ryman League Cup on 5th December 2006. He won the Young Player of the Year award at the end of the 2006/07 season. On 18th July 2007, Long Melford announced that he had signed for them for the 2007/08 season. On 2nd September 2008 he had signed for Hadleigh United, but on 30th January 2009 he re-signed for the Stoneylands club. September 2009 saw him back again at Long Melford and he stayed to the end of the season. On 4th July 2011 he re-signed yet again on again at Melford for the 2011/12 season and was appointed their captain and led the side out in the final of the Suffolk Senior Cup. He was back at Stoneylands for the 2012/13 season, however on 8th November he left and signed for Diss Town

Apps 1 Subs 4 Goals 0
Updated 09/11/12

Paul Skingley
He started off with Colchester Utd from the age of thirteen to seventeen and from there he went to Brantham left the next season to play for Ransomes. He returned to Brantham before breaking his leg at the age of 19 and was out of action for over a season but came back to play for Felixstowe Town. He returned to Brantham but broke his leg a second time. Paul took his coaching badges and managed BS Fonnereau Reserves for two seasons before leaving to take over East Bergholt winning successive promotions to senior football for the first time in their history. ‘Skins’ gave up managing on the birth of his twin daughters but went onto gain his UEFA B badge. He then coached at Whitton United before moving onto Needham Market where he joined up Mark Morsley in October 2003 and came to AFC at the start of season 2006/07.  He remained at the club during the 2007/08 season. At the beginning of May 2008 he was appointed head coach at Brantham Athletic to oversee all the coaching at the club. In July 2010 he continued in the role and was still there at the end of the 2011/12 season. In October 2012 he was helping with the fitness training at Capel Plough.

Updated 05/10/12

James Skipper
A sixteen year old forward signed towards the end of 2009, he came through the AFC Grassroots system having played when younger mainly as a goalkeeper. He previously played for Cornard Dynamos. He was named as a substitute a number of times before making his debut coming on as a substitute on 16th March 2010. He won the 2009/10 Young Player of the Year award. He remained with the club in season 2010/11 and was also playing for the Halstead Town Academy side. He was still with the club at the start of the 2011/12 season, but in October 2011 left and joined Halstead Town. At the start of January 2013 he returned to play again for the club’s reserve side.

Apps 1 Subs 3 Goals 0

Updated 12/01/13

Ashley Sloots

A local boy who as a full back started with Colchester United in their youth system. He went to Bury Town in season 2007/08 and went onto make 142 appearances for them until the end of season 2010/11, he scored one goal.  He represented Suffolk at both under 16 and under 18 levels. He started pre-season 2011/12 with Needham Market, but on 18th August 2012 he signed for AFC. He played throughout the season but was not retained at the end of it. On 21st July 2012 he played in a pre-season game for Bury Town, however on 10th August he signed for Hadleigh United. On 25th October they announced he was taking a break from football for personal reasons. On 7th November 2012 it was reported that he was to sign again for AFC but it did not happen, however he return in the first week of December 2013. He appeared to have left again in the middle of April 2013.

Apps 46 Subs 21 Goals 0

Updated 28/04/13

Andy Smiles
‘Geordie’ as he was known to everyone was a great header of the ball and formed a great strike partnership with Brian Devereux. He had played with manager Keith Martin at all his previous clubs and was at AFC in the beginning. He stayed until the end of season 2000/01 during which most of his appearances were from the bench. Left to join Long Melford and retired during 2003/04. In September 2009 he continued to be a local painter and decorator and playing golf in his spare time. In August 2012 he was still active at golf playing at Newton Green.

Apps 45 Subs 17 Goals 20
Updated 08/08/12

Ben Smith

An experienced midfielder (b 23/11/78) he began his career with Arsenal at the start of the 1995/96 season and played in their youth team He moved to Reading in 1996 and made his senior debut on the final day of the 1996/97 season, before moving to Yeovil Town (113 apps 15 goals) in March 1998 where he remained until 2001. From there he signed for Southend United making a solitary appearance in season 2001/02 before leaving for Hereford United (52 apps 18 goals) where he remained until 2004 when Shrewsbury Town (24 apps 4 goals) became his next stop. He joined Weymouth (44 apps 13 goals) in January 2006 winning the Conference South Championship, however financial cuts saw him re-join on 25th January 2007 Hereford United (99 apps 7 goals) for £20,000, winning promotion to Division One of The Football League in 2007/08. ‘Smithy’ left in the summer of 2009 before joining Crawley Town (68 apps 12 goals), having a loan spell with Kettering Town (3 apps 0 goals) and then during January 2012, he went on loan to Aldershot Town (8 apps 0 goals) for the remainder of the 2011/12 season. He joined AFC on a one year deal on 15th August 2012, however he played only eight games before being released on 25th September 2012. On 11th October he signed for Thurrock FC in the Conference South, but AFC retained his Ryman registration.

Apps 8 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 23/11/12

James Smith

A defender (b 01/09/85) started his football career with Cambridge United where he spent three years as a YTS on their books. He was not offered a contract at the end of it and joined Welling United at the start of the 2004/05 season before joining Conference side Ebbsfleet (Gravesend and Northfleet at the time) for season 2005/06. He won England C caps while with them as well as a winner’s medal in the 2007/08 FA Trophy final at Wembley in front of a crowd of 40,186. Farnborough was his next club at the start of the 2009/10 season, before in May 2011 joining Borehamwood. September 2011 saw him sign for Thurrock, and in November 2011 he played two games for Maldon and Tiptree before later in the month going to East Thurrock United. He joined AFC on 10^th January 2012 and played until the end of the 2011/12 season in May 2012. He remained with the club in season 2012/13, but only played until the end of October 2013 when he sustained an ankle injury and did not play for the club again.

Apps 22 Subs 3 Goals 0

Updated 28/04/13

Nicky Smith

An ex Sudbury Town player (b 28/01/69) he started his football career in the Bristol area and played a couple of games for Sharpness. He went for trials with Swindon Town before joining up with Southend United in season 1986/87. He stayed then until 1989/90 making 60 appearances scoring 6 goals. He then went to Colchester United in season 1990/91 making 147 appearances and scoring 12 times winning both the F.A. Trophy and the Conference. He had a short spell at Wycombe Wanderers before he played six games for Northampton Town early in season 1994/95, then joining Sudbury Town in 1994. He played 154 games at the Priory then went to Cambridge City and on to Braintree Town in 1997/98 where he made 164 appearances scoring 19 times. In 2002/03 Maldon Town became his club before signing for Witham Town during the 2005/06 season. He re-signed for them in 2006/07, but at the end of September 2006 a number of Witham players left due to budget cuts. On 3rd October 2006 the midfielder signed for AFC as a 38 year old and he made his debut at Chatham Town on 7th October 2006. In June 2007 he was appointed player/assistant manager of the club. He was named a record number of times as an unused substitute though 2007/08 a total of forty four times. On 17th May 2008 he became the club’s fourth manager taking over from Mark Morsley, as the club was placed in the Southern League Midland Division. At the end of January 2009 he agreed a deal to keep him at the club until the end of the 2010/11 season, in which the club reverted back to the Ryman League. he was still manager in December 2010. On 15th March, the same day as he made his first appearance of the 2010/11 season, he agreed an extension to his contract until December 2012. In March 2011 he was appointed as manager of the England Police Football team, having been a coach for a number of years previous. He appointed ex AFC goalkeeper Richard Wilmot as his assistant. On 15th September 2011 after two FA Cup ties and six league games of the 2011/12 season he tendered his resignation and it was accepted by the club. He remained out of club football in early May 2012 but on 30th was named as the joint manager along with Colin Wallington of Saffron Walden Town. On 12th November 2012 due to work commitments he stepped done from the position.

Apps 47 Subs 109 Goals 2

As Manager  Games 162 Won 64 Drawn 41 Lost 57

2008/9 Played 54 Won 23 Drawn 12 Lost 19

2009/10 Played 51 Won 17 Drawn 13 Lost 21

2010/11 Played 49 Won 22 Drawn 13 Lost 14

2011/12 Played 8 Won 2 Drawn 3 Lost 3

Updated 13/11/12

Paul Smith
Due to an injury and suspension crisis towards the end of October 2006, he was signed on in time to play in an F.A. Cup tie at home against Leatherhead on 28th October 2006. He played and scored on his debut. A midfielder (b 18/09/71), he previously had played professional football for Southend United, Brentford, Gillingham, Walsall and Swindon Town. He left the club after this one game. At the beginning of February 2007 he signed for Torquay United, but was not there in August 2007 after the club was relegated. He went to Barnet in early August 2007 but was only there one day before being released, Great Wakering Rovers signed him on 24th August 2007. He left the Essex club after only a few weeks and signed for St Albans City, however on 18th October 2007 a deal was agreed for him to sign a contract at AFC until the end of the 2007/08 season. On 22nd May 2008 Margate announced he had joined them as player/coach for 2008/09. After a run of bad results he was relieved of his position on 28th October 2008. He signed for Billericay Town on 31st October and scored on his debut against Margate on 1st November 2008. In April 2013 he was helping with coaching sessions with ex-AFC goalkeeper Dean Neil.

Apps 27 Subs 7 Goals 4

Updated 28/04/13

Ben Smythe
Young defender released by West Bromwich Albion, came to AFC in December 1999. He played only one full game for the club and was released in February 2000. He went onto play a few games for Achilles. Son of Paul Smythe a former Sudbury Town player.

Apps 2 Subs 3 Goals 0

Updated 19/09/11

Glenn Snell
A twenty five year old (b 28/2/85) strong , quick forward who was also signed on 25th March 2010 to coach the first team as he held a UEFA B coaching badge. He previously played for Bury Town, Needham Market, Felixstowe and Walton United and Woodbridge Town. He was still with AFC in July 2010, but in the middle of September he was informed that his services were no longer required. On 16th October 2010 he was back playing for Felixstowe and Walton United. On 21st May 2011 it was announced that he would become the team’s coach for the 2011/12 season and he was still there in April 2012. At the end of the season he announced he would be standing down from the position. On 15th September 2012 Whitton United announced that he had joined them.

Apps 1 Subs 13 Goals 0
Updated 15/09/12

Tony Spearing
A vastly experienced Football League defender (b 07/10/64), he had played for Norwich City 69 apps 2 goals (while there on loan at Stoke City 9 apps and Oxford United 5 apps) between 1984 and 1988, Leicester City 73 apps 1 goal between 1988 and 1991, Plymouth Argyle 35 apps between 1991 and 1993, and Peterborough United 111 apps 3 goals between 1993 and 1997. ‘Spearo’ went to King’s Lynn in 1997 and became player manager but was relieved of his duties in March 2002. He joined AFC and played his first game on 1st April 2002, a player with a cultured left foot. His last game was in the FA Vase final of 2002/03. He was not re-signed at the start of season 2003/04 and joined Great Yarmouth Town where he was voted Player of the Year. At the start of season 2004/05 he signed for Wisbech Town and unfortunately scored an own goal which was the winner in his debut game for them. In October 2004 was released from Wisbech after a change of manager. At the start of the 2005/06 season was helping with coaching at Cambridge United, and then was appointed their assistant manager. He signed a new contact towards the end of the 2005/06 season, but after the club failed to win any of the first six games of the 2006/07 season he was sacked along with manager Rob Newman on 1st September 2006. In August 2007 he was believed to be working for Blackburn Rovers as their European Scout. On 1st March 2008 he left to join West Bromwich Albion as the head of European recruitment and in September 2011 he was still there. Seen alive and well in Norwich City directors box 26th September 2012.

Apps 50 Subs 8 Goals 2

Updated 05/10/12

Nathan Speed
A sprightly eighteen year old (b 30/05/90) right back or right sided midfield player who was a professional with Colchester United before being released by the Essex club at the end of the 2007/08 season. He had also played for Whitton United. ‘Speedy’ signed for the club at the start of the 2008/09 season and at the end of it he won both the Supporters Player of the Year and the First Team Managers Player of the Year awards. In the middle of April 2009 he signed a contract to stay with the club for season 2009/10, which he did. He left in April 2010 to attend university, but a change in circumstances meant he re-signed on 21st August 2010. After only three appearances he decided to leave due to not enjoying his football. In February 2011 he had appeared as a substitute for Whitton United. Seen on 14th January 2012 he was only playing five-a-side football for pleasure. On 1st September 2012 he was playing football in the SIL for Coplestonians.

Apps 106 Subs 3 Goals 0
Updated 05/09/12

Matt Stace
He was a central defender (b 23/12/84) who played previously for Harwich & Parkeston and in season 2006/07 Wivenhoe Town. He played on 14th July 2007 against AFC for Harwich and the following week was in the AFC side that played at Leiston. He performed well and was signed on a one year deal after the game. He became unsettled during January 2008 and on 19th February 2008 he was released from his contract and signed for Harwich & Parkeston. On 23rd March 2008 he signed for Heybridge Swifts. He was in the Harwich & Parkeston team on 8th November 2008 and in January 2009 signed a contract to stay with them until the end of the 2009/10 season. It was however reported on 11th July 2009 he had moved to Felixstowe and Walton United where he became the team captain. On 2nd January 2010 he had re-signed for AFC and played against Chesham United. This was his only game as injury struck, he played a few games with West Bergholt to try and regain fitness but at the end of March 2010 he stopped playing for the season and had left the club. At the beginning of June 2010 he signed for Leiston, however on 8th October he was starting a months loan at Brantham Athletic. On 23rd October he was recalled and on the bench for Leiston, however three days later he was placed on the transfer list. On 12th November 2010 he had joined FC Clacton. He was injured and at the beginning of April 2011 was playing for Harwich and Parkeston to get his fitness back. At the start of the 2011/12 season, August 2011 he was back with Brantham Athletic. He left there early in December 2011 and was back with Harwich and Parkeston and on 12th August 2012 he was still with the Essex club. On 16th February 2013 he had signed and played for Hadleigh United.

Apps 28 Subs 8 Goals 1
Updated 21/02/13

Daryl Stiff
A young central defender who joined from Stowmarket Town in August 1999, played few games but was injury prone and released in February 2000. In season 2005/06 he was playing for Stowupland in the Suffolk and Ipswich League and played against AFC Reserves in the final of the Suffolk Junior Cup at Portman Road in April 2006.

Apps 17 Subs 1 Goals 0

Updated 19/09/11

Danny Stokes (Dance)
A fast running front man, he signed for AFC from Long Melford on 3rd March 2007 where he had been their leading scorer with eleven goals from 24 games, he previously played for Foxash Social. ‘Stokesy’ played for the reserves during the rest of the 2006/07 but was named as a substitute on 3rd April 2007 for the first team, his first appearance for them was 11th September 2007 again as a substitute. He won the Ridgeons Reserve League Top Scorer award for season 2007/08 and signed for the club again as part of the first team squad for 2008/09. On 8th October 2008 he went on loan to Tiptree United for a month and then returned to the club. He played little and on 22nd January 2009 was released by the club. Long Melford reported on 6th March 2009 that he had re-signed for them. At the start of season 2009/10 he was reported to have signed for Witham Town, however on 22nd August 2009 he was playing for Cornard United. In the middle of March 2010 he had signed again for AFC and he was back at the start of the 2010/11 season. He had left the club in December 2010, and in February 2011 he was back with Long Melford. He returned to AFC on 8th October 2011 having changed his surname to Dance. In January 2012 he informed that he would be leaving as he was moving to the Peterborough area. At the start of the 2012/13 season he was turning out for Peterborough ICA Sports and was still there in November 2012.

Apps 9 Subs 15 Goals 5
Updated 04/12/2012

Ashley Stoneman

A 23 year-old defender, he hailed from Gedding,  and made his debut as a trialist at Halstead Town on 29th July 2011. Previously he played for Exeter City and then was team captain of Team Solent for three years while studying sports science at Southampton University. While there he won the Outstanding Sporting Achievement Award in 2009. He signed for AFC in the middle of August 2011 but stayed until 16th September 2011 when he left and signed for Stowmarket Town. His last appearance for them was in November 2011. On 18th August 2012 he was playing for ESBL side Tollesbury.

Apps 1 Subs 6 Goals 0

Updated 18/08/12

Micky Stratton
A midfielder, he had played for Keith Martin at all his clubs, Cornard United, Halstead Town and Braintree Town before joining AFC in August 1999. ‘Strats’ could play in a number of positions, was mainly used as a fullback or in midfield. Suffered an injury in February 2001 and it was thought he would retire, but he made a comeback for Long Melford. He did retire at the start of the 2003/04 season. At the start of the 2006/07 season was playing Sunday League football for the Northcroft Sudbury. On 24th March 2007 he returned to King’s Marsh to play in goal for the Reserves. He continued to play Sunday League football in season 2007/08. In September 2008 he announced that he would only be playing Veterans Football at Felixstowe.

Apps 64 Subs 12 Goals 1

Updated 19/09/11

Chris Sullivan

A former Essex County Schoolboys 100m sprinter (b 26/09/87) he came through the Stevenage Borough youth ranks before moving on to Braintree Town, on 21st May 2007, where he played 40 Conference South games for The Iron scoring 9 goals. Out of contract he was snapped up by AFC Wimbledon in August 2008 and was there for the 2008/09 season before leaving for Billericay Town, where he remained until November 2009. He played for Canvey Island, Tooting and Mitcham United and St Albans City. He returned to Braintree Town in March 2011 before ending last season at Aveley. He signed for AFC on 24th June 2011, however after making only one start and four other appearances he was released on 16th September 2011. Romford announced on 1st November that he had signed for them, but he did not make his first appearance for them until 7th January 2012. He played for them against AFC on 21st April 2012 and was still there at the start of the 2012/13 season 20th August 2012. In October 2012 he was still registered with ‘The Borough’ but was not playing.

Apps 5 Subs 1 Goals 0

Updated 20/10/12

Daniel Swain
A seventeen year old (b 5/11/91) local lad, he signed on in the middle of January 2010 from Cornard United. The defender made his first team debut as a substitute on 26th January 2010. During season 2009/10 he represented Suffolk FA at under 18 level. He re-signed for AFC at the start of the 2010/11 season and became a first team regular. On 25th November 2011 he went on loan for a month to Whitton United, that was extended until the middle of January 2012. He was then dual registered with both clubs, but at the end of the 2011/12 season he was not retained.

Apps 51 Subs 18 Goals 1
Updated 06/06/12

Ryan Swallow

Started out with Cambridge United and then played for his home town club Haverhill Rovers, before he left to join Long Melford at the start of the 2011/12 season making fifteen appearances and scoring once. He remained with them until on 17th January 2012 when he signed for AFC, making his debut the next day as a substitute at Lewes in the Ryman League Cup. He continued with the reserves until the end of the 2011/12 season in May 2012, and returned at the start of the 2012/13 season, August 2012. At the end of the season he won the Reserve Team Golden Boot Award.

Apps  Subs  Goals

Updated 18/05/13

Russell Tanner

A left back (b 11/03/72) who spent many years at Braintree Town before going to Heybridge Swifts from where he signed for AFC in October 2001. In season 2002/03 found his opportunities limited and left in December 2002 for Witham Town. At the start of season 2003/04 he became their assistant manager and was still there at the start of 2004/05. In 2005/06 he was promoted to first team manager at Witham. They gained promotion to the Ryman League Division One North in season 2006/07. On 30th September 2006 he resigned from the manager’s position due to financial cuts at the club. In the middle of November 2006 he was appointed assistant manager at Maldon Town. At the end of the 2006/07 season he was appointed manager of the club and was still there at the start of the 2007/08 season. He continued in the position for 2008/09, until the middle of September 2008 when he was sacked while on holiday in Florida. Seen at Heybridge Swifts on 8th September 2012 he was not involved in football apart from watching various Essex clubs.

Apps 43 Subs 9 Goals 0
Updated 11/09/12

Ross Taylor
A midfielder he was previously with Arsenal as a youth team player, ‘Roscoe’ signed from Heybridge Swifts at the start of the 2002/03, although made debut in charity game against Hollyoaks X1. His other clubs included Stevenage Borough and Chelmsford City. He will be remembered for his very strange haircuts. Was not re-signed at the start of season 2003/04 and joined Wivenhoe Town was still with them in season 2004/05. He was not re-signed in 2005/06. In January 2013 he was a hairdresser at Rosscos in Leigh Road Southend.

Apps 44 Subs 5 Goals 1

Updated 20/01/13

Mark Theobald
‘Sparky’ was a regular member of the club’s reserve side where he played in most positions. He made his first team debut when he came on as a substitute at Swaffham on 17th November 2001. At the end of the 2002/03 season he was the winner of the Reserve Team Player’s Player of the year award. At the start of season 2003/04 he was made captain of the club’s reserve side and signed Ridgeons League forms in September 2003. At the start of October 2003 he was lured to Blackhouse Lane and joined Cornard United and was still there at the start of season 2004/05. In March 2005 he signed for Sudbury Athletic, but at the start of the 2005/06 season was back with AFC signing to play in the reserve, however towards the end of the season he won a recall to the first team and played a number of games. He was back in season 2006/07 and made two substitute appearances. At the end of the season he won the Players Player of the Year award, but never returned to the club at the start of the 2007/08 season. In December 2007 he played a game for Sudbury Athletic. At the start of the 2008/09 season he had returned to Cornard United. In September 2008 he had left and returned once again to Sudbury Athletic. In March 2009 he was playing for Cockfield United and in August 2009 at Sudbury Athletic. On 23rd September 2009 he re-signed for AFC and at the end of the season won the Reserve Team Leading Goalscorer award. In August 2010 he returned for the 2010/11 season. He was back yet again just after the start of the 2011/12 season, but only played a few times due to injury.

Apps 8 Subs 6 Goals 0

Updated 24/04/12

Bradley Thomas

A central defender (b 29/03/84) he started his career under Peterborough United in 2002 but did not make a first-team appearance While there he was loaned out to Kettering Town in 2003 (9 apps 1 goal), Aldershot Town 2003/04 (5 apps 1 goal), Heybridge Swifts 2004 (7 apps), Welling United 2004 (1 app) and Weymouth 2005        (12 apps 2 goals). He signed for Eastleigh in the summer of 2005 but in January 2006 he joined Yeovil Town however he made only one appearance and was loaned out to both Tamworth (11 apps 2 goals) and Boston United (11 apps 2 goals) and was then released by Yeovil at the end of the 2006/07 season. In June 2007 he was signed by Crawley but broke a leg in August 2007 and did not play again until February 2008, he then agreed a deal to stay at Crawley (27 apps) for the 2008/09 season in the Conference. He left and joined King’s Lynn in 2008 (26 apps 2 goals) however late in the season played for Sutton United (4 apps). In November 2009 he joined Hendon (5 apps). Braintree Town was the next club on 15 July 2010 after a trial spell and the a short time at Concord Rangers before joining Grays Athletic in November 2010. He decided to leave Grays in March 2012 but after discussions with the club remained with them until the end of the 2011/12 season (60 apps 7 goals). He signed for AFC on 13th June 2012 and made his debut on 15th September 2012. On 23rd November he was released by the club. Aveley announced that he had joined them on 8th January 2013.

Apps 10  Subs 0 Goals 1

Updated 09/01/13

Gary Thompson
A much travelled player, he was on Ipswich Town’s books as well as at Sudbury Town, Woodbridge Town and Felixstowe. Mainly a defensive midfield man ‘Tommo’ signed for AFC in November 2002 and had the dubious distinction of being sent off on his debut against Clacton. Made only token appearances and as a result went to Wivenhoe Town at the start of season 2003/04, but in December 2003 he re signed for AFC. On 1st April 2004 he transferred to Clacton Town. He however appeared once again in an AFC shirt this time as a guest player in a pre-season game in Dublin in August 2004. Woodbridge Town was his club from the start of season 2004/05 played a few games but was injured. At the start of the 2007/08 season it was announced that he was the manager of Whitton United Reserves. On 25th October 2007 he was promoted to manager of their first team and the club won promotion at the end of the season.
He continued in that role at the start of the 2008/09 season. On 21st December 2008 Tiptree United announced that on 1st January 2009 he would become their assistant manager. That lasted until 6th March 2009 when they announced he had left the club. On 4th August 2009 he was named as the assistant manager of Hadleigh United. On 3rd May 2010 he had left the club by mutual consent along with the manager. At the start of the 2010/11 season he was coaching at Ipswich Wanderers. He was not involved during 2011/12 but on 21st June 2012 he was appointed as assistant manager of Felixstowe and Walton United. On 18th September 2012 he was relieved of his duties along with the manager.

Apps 12 Subs 1 Goals 0
Updated 18/09/12

Ricky Thurlow 

A young tall striker when he came from youth football to play for the reserves and made one appearance in an Eastern Floodlight fixture in season 2004/05. He left the club and went to Hadleigh United and in 2005/06 and 2006/07 was at Capel Plough, but stopped playing for them halfway through the season. In November 2007 he was playing for Capel Plough Reserves. On 13th February 2010 he was still with Capel but playing in their first team, and he was still with them on in January 2012. Capel management reported on 17th February 2012 that he had retired.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 18/02/12

Lee Townrow
A midfield man, (b 30/04/85) he originally played for AFC as a triallist at Harwich in July 2007 but was not signed. He has previously played for Wivenhoe Town, Heybridge Swifts, Redbridge, Tiptree United and Halstead Town, where he was their leading scorer in the 2009/10 season. He signed for AFC from the Essex club at the start of season 2010/11. On 18th January 2011 he was sent off and on his return on 15th February was sent off again. As a result of his ill discipline he was released on 20th February. He signed for FC Clacton on 23rd February 2011, but never played a game for them and on 9th March 2011 re-joined Redbridge. On 27th May 2011 Maldon and Tiptree United stated they had signed him for the 2011/12 season. He stayed there until the 2nd December 2011 when he left and signed for Stanway Rovers, where he was in April 2012. He played against AFC for them on 24th July 2012 and was still there in January 2013. On 19th February 2013 the Essex club released him and he signed once again for AFC.

Apps 36 Subs 2 Goals 8
Updated 15/05/13

Chris Tracey

He had been captain at Sudbury Town (370 apps) up to amalgamation and came to the new club in June 1999 with a great deal of enthusiasm. Was made captain in the first season and won the Supporters and the First Team Manager’s Player of the Year in 1999/00. A tall central defender     (b 13/02/70) had previously played at Harwich and Parkeston (221 apps) and had trials at Colchester and at one time interested Millwall. ‘Lurch’ was granted a testimonial game which he shared with Robert Sims, against West Ham at the start of season 2001/02, a man who did not like to lose. He was captain of the Vase final team of 2002/03 and Manager’s Player of the Year in the same season. At the start of November 2003 he signed a new contract keeping him at the club until the end of the 2004/05 season. Injuries took their toll and he was not selected for the F.A. Vase final squad of 2004/05 and afterwards decided he would leave the club. The club released him from his contract and he signed for Ipswich Wanderers (42 apps) in May 2005 and he played for them throughout that season. In a surprise move at the start of 2006/07 he joined Needham Market (47 apps) as player-manager. On 27th June 2007 he re-signed for AFC as a player on a one year contract. After some discussion he was allowed to leave on 30th January 2008 to join Long Melford, although AFC retained his Ryman registration. On 31st January he was unveiled as the new player/manager of Long Melford (8 apps). On 2nd April 2008 he re-appeared in an AFC shirt as a substitute in the Ryman League Cup Final. On 15th April it was announced that he was to be the Stanway Rovers manager for 2008/09 and had left Long Melford, on the same day he was an unused substitute for AFC. He remained with AFC until the end of the season. On 18th May 2008 he resigned as the Stanway Rovers manager to become assistant manager at AFC to new manager Nicky Smith. At the end of January 2009 he agreed a deal to keep him at the club until the end of the 2010/11 season. He was still with club in December 2010 having hung up his playing boots after over 1000 senior games. On 15th March 2011 it was announced by the club that he had signed an extension to his contract that run until December 2012. On 18th March he stated he had not signed any extension and would not be at the club in season 2011/12. On 5th April 2011 he made an announcement that he would in fact be staying with the club and a had agreed to stay until December 2012. He started the 2011/12 season still as the club’s assistant manager.  On 15th September 2011 when manager Nicky Smith resigned he was appointed as the club’s acting manager. The AFC board appointed him as the permanent manager until the end of the 2011/12 season on 12th October 2012. On 26th January 2012 he was given a contract until the end of the 2012/13 season. He was in post through the 2013/13 season until 13th March 2013 when he resigned his position. On 16th March he had signed and played for Cornard United at the age of 43. On 25th April 2013 Diss Town announced that he had joined their management team with immediate effect.

Apps 341 Subs 89 Goals 22

Record as Manager

Total Played 84 Won 38 Drew 15 Lost 31 Goals For 149 Against 150

Season 2011/12 Played 46 Won 26 Drew 7 Lost 13 Goals For 89 Against 66

Season 2012/13 Played 38 Won 12 Drew 8 Lost 18 Goals For 60 Against 84

Updated 26/04/13

Josh Turner
A nineteen year old midfielder (b 11/12/91)  signed on 26th January 2011 after being released from Soham Town Rangers. At sixteen he had a trial with Portsmouth before starting his footballing career at Cambridge United, he then went to Histon before joining Soham. He represented both Suffolk and Cambridgeshire at under 18 level. He left at the end of the 2010/11 season and on 9th July 2011 was having a trial with King’s Lynn Town. On 23rd July 2011 he was playing again for Soham Town Rangers, but on 6th August he turned out for Mildenhall Town and later signed for them. On 1st July 2012 he was announced as a new signing for newly promoted Wroxham. He played for them and in September 2012 he ruptured ligaments in his knee that would keep him out for the remained of the 2012/13 season.

Apps 9 Subs 9 Goals 1

Updated 09/10/12

James Vandecar

Made his one and only appearance on 1st September 2001 when regular’ keeper Ben Nower was unavailable due to new car sales! Let in three goals against Swaffham and looked a little rusty to say the least. Not seen again, however he joined the Essex Police and in May 2007 was a Sergeant serving in Witham. On the first day of the Ridgeons League season 2007/08, 11th August 2007 he played for Ipswich Wanderers, however by December 2007 he was no longer with the club.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 19/09/11

Stuart Walker
A young midfield player who started at Bury Town and then joined Walsham le Willow, he signed for AFC on 8th December 2009. In June 2010 he re-signed for the 2010/11 season, however a promotion at work meant he was unable to train and play. On 23rd November 2010 he was playing for Team Bury. At the start of the 2011/12 season, July 2011 he signed for Mildenhall Town. At the beginning of the 2012/13 season he was with Ely City and was coaching and the assistant manager. He damaged his cruciate ligament in October 2012 and awaiting an operation.

Apps 19 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 26/11/12

David Walton
‘Walts’ joined the club at the start of season 1999/00 and was the regular goalkeeper. Born 2/9/75 he had been a youth team player at West Ham and Watford. Joined Sudbury Town then went to Baldock Town before joining AFC. Made some great saves but was prone to make some silly mistakes and was transferred to Haverhill Rovers in December 2000 for £100 plus vat! At the start of season 2003/04 signed for Halstead Town where he stayed until the end of the 2004/05 season. In June 2005 he signed for Newmarket Town, were he played in season 2005/06. He however at the start of 2006/07 signed for his hometown club of Haverhill Rovers, but his appearances were limited due to a knee injury. The start of the season 2007/08 saw him re-sign for AFC to play mainly in the reserves. He was with the club again at the start of the 2008/09 campaign, but on 1st October 2008 left to play for Enfield Town. On 9th April 2009 he answered a call due to a goalkeeping crisis and played once again for the club. On 6th August 2009 he had signed once again for Haverhill Rovers. He decided to leave Hamlet Croft and on 20th January 2010 signed once again for AFC. He was back at the start of the 2010/11 season mainly as a goalkeeping coach and as first team cover. He remained with the reserve team as a coach, and at the start of the 2011/12 season was named as their assistant manager. In the middle of January 2012 he was appointed as temporary manager of the club’s reserve side reverting back to his old role on 15th May 2012. He  continued in his position with the club at the start of the 2012/13 season.

Apps Subs Goals

Updated 06/08/12

Shane Wardley

A defender (b 26/02/80) he joined AFC on 18th January 2004 from Cambridge City after being released from his contract. It was his second spell there after joining from Chelmsford City, he was sold to Southend United when David Webb paid £5000 for him and returned in the 2002 close season. He made his debut as a sub against Maldon on 20th January 2004 and his first start four days later at Soham. In the 2004/05 F.A. Vase final he scored at both ends against Didcot Town. At the end of the 2004/05 season he was voted Supporters Player of the Year and also the Player’s Player of the Year, he remained with the club throughout 2005/06 and was still there in 2006/07 and he played throughout it. At the start of the 2007/08 season he was still at the club and played throughout it. He left at the end of the season and signed for Leiston on a two year contract on 16th June 2008. At the start of the 2010/11 season he signed again for the Victory Road club and suffered a bad knee injury early in season. He was still out injured in February 2011. He recovered and was back playing for Leiston in September 2011 and played throughout the 2011/12 season winning   a championship medal at the end of it. He was however not retained by the club at the end of the season. On 6th July 2012 he was announced as a new signing for Hadleigh United where he played through the 2012/13 season. On 11th April 2013 the Millfield club announced he had signed for another season.

Apps 242 Subs 6 Goals 7
Updated 13/04/13

Dave Wareham
A 22 year old wide player (b 26/11/87) who was a regular in the Colchester United youth team for a number of seasons before going to Heybridge Swifts and then to Billericay Town from where he signed for AFC in July 2010. He played throughout the 2010/11 season and was retained for 2011/12 and played throughout it until May 2012. In the middle of June 2012 It was announced that he had left the club. On 2nd July 2012 he was announced as new signing for the 2012/13 season at Maldon and Tiptree.

Apps 94 Subs 2 Goals 21

Updated 03/07/12

Steve Wareham
A 30 year old (b 28/11/79) when he signed for the club at the start of August 2010, he had played with for a number of clubs, including, Halstead Town, Tiptree United, St Neots Town, Bedford Town, Maldon Town, East Thurrock and Witham Town. He played throughout the 2010/11 season but was not retained and left at the end of it. In September 2011 he was believed to have retired from playing, however in October 2011 he was playing for Springfield FC in the Essex Olympian League. He remained with them until the end of the  2011/12 season in May 2012. He was not playing in August 2012 having had problems with his hips.

Apps 42 Subs 6 Goals 6

Updated 22/08/12

Mark Warren
A defender (b 12/11/74) he started his football career with Leyton Orient in 1992 and went onto make 161 appearances and scoring 5 goals leaving at the end of the 1998/99 season, during his time with the O’s he had a loan spell at Oxford United (4/0). He the joined Notts County staying with them until the end of the 2001/02 season (84/1) Season 2002/03 saw him with Colchester United (20/0) and 2003/04 it was Southend United (32/2) He then went into non-league with Fisher Athletic and remained with them until 2006 when he signed for King’s Lynn. He stayed until the end of the 2008/09 season (65/5) On 10th September 2009 he joined AFC and made his debut two days later. He played only one game and decided he would retire from football. On 5th October he had signed and played for Peterborough League side Parsons Drove.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 5/12/10

Tom Webb
A 21 year old midfielder/forward (b 17/4/89) he started his footballing career with Colchester United and before the start of the 2007/8 season signed professionally for them. He played regularly for the reserve side and made one first team appearance albeit as a substitute. In February 2008 he had a loan spell with Folkestone Invicta. After being released by Colchester he went to the Glenn Hoddle Academy in Spain. He appeared later for Harlow Town and before the start of 2009/10 he signed for Halstead Town from where he signed for AFC in the middle of May 2010. He was still with the club in December 2010, but on 17th January 2011 he was released. On 15th March he returned to the club and was named as a substitute that day and stayed until the end of the season. On 23rd June 2011 Tilbury announced that he had signed for them and he was still there in April 2012. In the early part of July 2012 he had re-signed for AFC and he remained until 30th November 2012 when he went back again to Tilbury. He remained there until the last week of January 2013 when he joined Stanway Rovers.

Apps 36 Subs 19 Goals 5
Updated 01/02/13

Dave Webster
A young forward who moved to the Sudbury area in 2004 and had previously played for Dagenham & Redbridge Reserves, at the start of the 2004/05 season he joined AFC. He played in the reserves and in three Eastern Floodlight League games. At the end of the season he won both the Young Player of the Year and Top Scorer awards. He was given a chance with the first team squad at the start of the 2005/06 season but in September 2005 he joined Tilbury, a club a lot nearer his new home in Romford.

Apps 3 Subs 0 Goals 1

Updated 19/09/11

Jonathan Whight
Joined the club in the early part of season 2001/02 from Cockfield United and played as a central defender for the reserves. He showed promise and was called upon to play in the first team making his debut as a substitute at Swaffham on 17th November 2001. Made only two other appearances both as a substitute. He was ‘Young Player of the Year in season 2001/02. Suffered from head injury late in the season and never returned, but did play again for Cockfield United. He was still playing for them in 2006/07, 2007/08 2008/09 and again in 2009/10. A loyal clubman he continued with the village side in 2010/11, and in the 2011/12 season he took over as player-manager of the side.

Apps 3 Subs 1 Goals 0

Updated 27/12/11

Liam Whittaker

A well build sixteen year old forward (b 13/08/93) he joined the club in the pre-season of 2010/11 and was promptly signed up. He had previously played for Cornard United, he made his debut as a substitute away at Stamford on 31st August 2010. He played for Suffolk Under 18′s on 17th October 2010. On 28th December 2010 he was signed by FC Clacton on Ridgeons League forms with AFC retaining his Ryman registration. This was stopped on 22nd January 2011 when he signed a contract with AFC. He remained with the club at the start of 2011/12, however on 9th August 2011 he was loaned out again to FC Clacton this time for ninety three days. On 14th November 2011 he was due to return to the club, but was not seen and believed to have an injury that stopped him playing. At the end of the 2011/12 season, May 2012 he was not retained by the club. On 24th July he played against AFC in a pre-season game for Stanway Rovers having recovered from injury, he played only two games and was released. On 23rd August 2012 he signed for Brightlingsea Regent.

Apps 19 Subs 18 Goals 1

Updated  30/08/12

Jack Wignall
A strong central defender (b 26/09/81) who joined AFC from Wivenhoe Town on 28th February 2007 aged 25. He started his playing career at Colchester United before joining Dagenham and Redbridge, and the Cambridge City and Chelmsford City before joining Wivenhoe in 2003. His father played professionally for a number of clubs including Colchester United. Made his debut on 3rd March 2007 and played until the end of the season. He returned for pre-season training, but on the 21st July 2007 asked to be placed on the transfer list, the request was granted. On the eve of the season, 17th August 2007 he was released from his contract and became a free agent. On 21st August he signed for Heybridge Swifts, but a few weeks later was transferred to Redbridge. At the start of the 2008/09 season he was with Ridgeons League side Needham Market. The clubs notes of 4th September 2008 reported that he had left the club, and on 7th October he had signed for Tiptree United. On 6th March 2009 they announced that he had been released from the club, and on 12th March that he had joined Harwich and Parkeston. At the end of July 2009 he had signed to play for Concord Rangers for 2009/10, which he did and won promotion with them. On 13th July 2010 he played in a pre-season game for AFC and later the same month signed on for the 2010/11 season and played throughout it. At the start of pre-season training for the 2011/12 season on 28th June 2011 he was appointed first team coach. He played only a few games before on 14th January 2012 he left the club to help run his parents bed and breakfast business in North Wales. On 24th January 2013 he returned back to live in Colchester.

Apps 61 Subs 15 Goals 6

Updated 25/01/13

Jack Wilkinson
An eighteen year old midfield player signed late in March 2010 having been with Needham Market and the New Suffolk College football academy. He made his debut on 5th April 2010 playing only the first half. He was not seen again. In July 2010 he had signed on again for the Bloomfields club, this time on a two year contract. On 9th October 2010 he joined Hadleigh United on a three month loan deal. Needham announced on 5th January 2011 he had joined Stanway Rovers on an extended loan, however on 19th February 2011 Mildenhall Town stated that he had joined them on a month’s loan. At the start of the 2011/12 season, July 2011 he had joined Haverhill Rovers on loan. On 8th October he was recalled back to Needham to play for them, however by 22nd October he had returned to The New Croft, but he played against AFC on 13th December 2011. he was back with ‘The Marketmen’ for the Ryman League play-offs in May 2012. On June 15th 2012 he signed a new contract to stay with “The Marketmen”. The club announced on 22nd January 2013 that he was being released and on 28th Haverhill Rover were anounced as his new club.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 28/01/13

Aaron Williams
He joined the club towards the end of the 2003/04 season as a sixteen year old and then played in the Eastern Floodlight League Final at the start of the 2004/05 season and a couple of other games in the same competition. A midfielder suffered a knee injury in 2006/07 that required an operation and in May 2007 was still on crutches. On March 21st 2009 he was playing for Glemsford and Cavendish United, and was still there in April 2010. On 8th September 2012 he was playing for Long Melford’s reserve side.

Apps 2 Subs 0 Goals 0

Updated 11/09/12

Ashley Williams
He joined at the start of the 2004/05, a young forward who played mainly for the reserve side but did manage one Eastern Floodlight game. In January 2011 he was playing for Long Melford and he was still there at the start of the 2011/12 season. On 6th October 2011 it was announced that he had signed for Hadleigh United. On 8th September 2012 he was back at Long Melford playing for their reserves.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 11/09/12

Scott Willis

A sixteen year old forward, he signed for the club in March 2010. He played twenty minutes of a reserve game on 13th March 2010 and made his first team debut three days later coming on as a substitute. In December 2010 he had left and was playing for Cornard United.

Apps 1 Subs 0 Goals 0
Updated 24/01/11

Richard Wilmot

A goalkeeper (b 29/08/69) he started his career with Arsenal. In 1986/87 he played for Hitchin Town. In the early 1990’s he played for Stevenage Borough before joining Scunthorpe United (3 apps) then signing for Halifax Town (32 apps). In 1998/99 he was with Aylesbury United (35 apps) and in August 2000, with Hendon on loan from Hitchin Town. He returned to Hitchin but in March 2001 went back to Hendon and stayed until the end of the season. St Albans City had his services in 2002/03, but in 2003/04 he played for both Hitchin and Hendon, St Albans and also Harrow Borough, He remained Hendon until the end of the 2007/8 season. On 16th June 2008 he signed for Cambridge City, but in September 2008 was back with Hendon. On 19th January 2009 he joined Potters Bar Town on loan for a month, before ending the season at Hendon. At the start of the 2009/10 season he originally signed once again for Hitchin, but after playing in a pre-season game for AFC signed for the club on 13th August 2009. He missed only one game during the season where his form was good enough to win the Players, Supporters, and Supporters Club Player of the Years awards. In June 2010 he signed on again for the 2010/11 season. On 14th October 2010 he was released having scored his first ever senior goal, and the first by a goalkeeper for the club two weeks earlier. He played one game for North Greenford United before on 30th October 2010 he was in the Barton Rovers squad and played for them on 6th November 2010. Three days later he returned to AFC to play one game due to goalkeeper unavailability. In March 2011 he was appointed assistant manager of the England Police Football team, with AFC manager Nicky Smith as manager. In August 2011 he was still with Barton Rovers and played throughout the 2011/12 season. He started the 2012/13 season with them and was still there in October 2012.

Apps 64 Subs 1 Goals 1
Updated 12/1o/12

Ashley Wilson

A midfield youngster, he came from the under 18’s to play in midfield in February 2003 in an East Anglian Cup tie at Long Melford. ‘Ash’ signed Ridgeons League forms for the club in September 2003. Won both the Reserves Players of the Year and the Young Player of the Year awards at the end of season 2003/04 after which he was rewarded with his first contract. He made his first competitive appearance on 28th August 2004 coming on in an F.A. Cup tie against Haringey Borough. He sustained a knee injury that needed an operation the start of the 2005/06 season and did not play for the club again. He did not have the operation on his knee until 2007 and had played no football at all up to 24th March 2007. In November 2007 he was playing for Sudbury Athletic. He played part of one pre-season game for AFC at the start of the 2008/09 season.

Apps 11 Subs 10 Goals 1

Updated 19/09/11

Piers Wixon

An eighteen year old forward (b 14/02/90), he joined the club on 31st December 2008 from Bishop’s Stortford. He previously was on the books of Cambridge United, and played for CRC. He was a Cambridgeshire County Youth player. He was injured at Barton Rovers on 28th February 2009 and in the middle of March 2009 he signed for Concord Rangers. At the start of the 2009/10 season he had joined Aveley, but on 18th December 2009 he joined Brentwood Town. In July 2010 he was still with the Essex club, but was back with Aveley in August 2010. On 12th January 2011 he was transferred to East Thurrock United, where he won the league and promotion with them. On 18th August 2011 he re-signed for AFC, he made one substitute appearance and on 30th August had left and joined Harlow Town, and was still there in April 2012. On 1st August they announced he had signed for the 2012/13 season and he was still there in October 2012.

Apps 10 Subs 2 Goals 4

Updated 12/10/12

Eljay Worrell

A left-sided player, he played previously with Hullbridge Sports, Brentwood Town, and joined Grays Athletic at the start of the 2010/11 season. He then signed for Tilbury on 1st November 2011 and played until the end of the 2011/12 season, when he won the Players Player Of The Year Award. He joined AFC on 12th June 2012, played five times and was released on 25th September 2012. He then signed and played for London Bari FC, but on 11th January 2013 he joined up with Billericay Town.

Apps  5 Subs 1 Goals 0

Updated 11/01/13

Jamie Wright
He was a young midfield player (b 22/10/89) who had been with Colchester United since the age of ten. He was released by the Football League club and immediately signed up by AFC on 19th September. He made his debut the next day at Bromsgrove Rovers but only lasted twelve minutes. He played until November 18th at Leighton Town but had left the club on 20th November 2008, and a few days later signed for Stanway Rovers. He was injured for the majority of the 2009/10 season but in July 2010 he signed again for them. He was injured for the majority of the 2010/11 season and on 23rd July 2011 returned to play again for Rovers and was still there in November 2011.

Apps 9 Subs 3 Goals 0

Updated 01/12/11

Correct As Far As Humanly Possible On 26/03/2013

Below are the details of the players who have played in competitive first team games and left the club since the club was formed in June 1999 so of these include Eastern Floodlight League games that were considered as first team games.

Below are the details of the goal scorers and the goals scored of players who have played, scored in competitive games and since LEFT for the club since it was formed in June 1999.

Plummer left Ipswich Town without making a League appearance and ventured to Northern Ireland where he made 116 appearances in the Carling Premiership for Glenavon and Bangor City over three seasons.

After opportunities to return to Football League clubs in England fell through, he decided to return to complete his studies at University and played for Needham Market for a brief period last season – departing whilst they were still top of the league and boasting the best defensive record.

A summer switch to Wroxham was swiftly followed by a move to Leiston before signing for league rivals Lowestoft last November.

Out of contract at Ryman League Premier Division club Lowestoft Town, goalkeeper Andrew Plummer has agreed a deal….

In his first year in charge at the Park Drive helm, Spillane led Maldon to second place in Ryman League Division One North before they suffered play-off final heartbreak and missed out on promotion in a penalty shootout against Thamesmead Town.

Falling short at the final hurdle was especially tough as they had led the division by 15 points at one stage during the season and Spillane wants a chance to see the job through fully.

He said: “There’s definitely unfinished business here for me.

“So I spoke to the chairman Ed (Garty) and said ‘let’s go again’.

“He was keen to keep me on and I’m now hoping to keep as many of the players from last year together as I can.

“Continuity is going to be important and I’ve no desire to make wholesale changes.

“Some will no doubt move on, but I’m confident that the vast majority will stay with us to give it another crack.

“We had a great season last year, despite the ultimate ending.”

> http://www.maldonandburnhamstandard.co.uk

David Batch – New AFC Sudbury Manager

AFC Sudbury’s new manager David Batch is preparing to repeat his winning formula at Wroxham by linking the Yellows from top to bottom.

Dave Cowley

AFC Sudbury Supporters’ Player of the Season Dave Cowley believes new manager David Batch needs to keep the nucleus of the side together.

If the Brickies do go north, they will lose 12 Kent derbies and travel almost a thousand miles more than they did last season.

With trips to Dereham and Wroxham in Norfolk replacing local clashes with Faversham and Whitstable, the club’s finances are set to take a battering.

Sittingbourne assistant secretary Peter Pitts said: “We never thought they’d do this because we’ve done so much to save money by moving to Woodstock.

“With the expense of going up to Norfolk to play Dereham and Wroxham, not to mention the huge drop in crowds, this is going to put us back to square one.

“There’s all sorts of talk of what we can do. We could drop into the Kent League, which we don’t want to do. We could go out of business altogether. Or we could ask for a parachute payment from the FA.

“There are two clubs involved because it’s going to be a partnership when we go to Woodstock Park. They’ve dropped two other teams to enable us to play there, so it will have a big impact.”

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